The adventure continues! After visiting Quito and the cloud forest at Mashpi Lodge , we continued on to The Galapagos Islands! These volcanic Islands, which are a National Park, are considered one of the world’s foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing! The islands are home to diverse plant and animal species, many found nowhere else!
We experienced the islands via a cruise onboard the Yacht La Pinta. It is a short flight from Quito or Guayaquil to the islands. Upon arrival into Baltra, we took a short bus ride, and we were wisked away by water taxi to board the ship!
Expedition sailings are different from the main stream cruise lines in many ways! To put it simply, size matters when it comes to cruising the Galapagos! This small expedition style vessel holds just up to 48 guests! This intimacy gives you the huge benefit of very small groups to explore the islands with! While not large, the ship does offer all the comforts of the larger ships, and an unparalleled level of personal service!
These sailing include twice daily excursions to explore the islands and water, and view the wildlife! Everything you need to fully immerse yourself in all the Galapagos has to offer is included and onboard for your convenience: a Glass-bottom boat, kayaks, snorkeling equipment, and large and comfortable pangas to explore in!
Upon boarding the boat and completing our life boat drill, we received our snorkel equipment to use for the duration of the cruise, and were treated to lunch! Breakfast and lunch were served buffet style,and the food and options were wonderful! Dinner is served a la carte, and you have your choice of several wonderful entrees. Being a small vessel, you get to know everyone onboard very well, including the very attentive room stewards and wait staff.
After lunch, we made an afternoon visit to South Plaza Island and met our naturalist guides for the first time. There are several guides onboard, all of whom are a wealth of knowledge, and have a true love for this National Park and its animal and plant inhabitants! They lead us on daily excursions, such as hikes, snorkeling, and panga rides, dispersing their knowledge along the way! Eddie was one of my favorites! He was so enthusiastic! He was just as happy to see those sea lions, birds, and turtles as all of the rest of us, and he had grown up on the islands!
That first evening we were introduced to the beautiful landscape of the islands and many of the different species of animals, we would come to know well over the next few days! We visited during the dry season, and the lack of water had much of the vegetation turning beautiful rainbows of colors! Being our first taste of the islands, and coupled with a beautiful sunset, it was a magical introduction to the Galapagos!
Life onboard feels like home, as you get to know your crew and fellow travelers. Each morning we were awoken to sounds of classical music and a short greeting from one of our intrepid guides, before a hearty breakfast and setting off on our first exploration of the day! Afternoons, were made for post lunch naps, and lovely moments at sea just relaxing, and watching the islands sail by, or frigate birds soar overhead. Upon returning from our afternoon activity each day, we were treated to snacks and happy hour on the deck. It was such a fun and relaxing way to discuss the events of the day and share photos and stories! Just before dinner there is a brief educational talk about what species you saw that day, or some interesting historical information on the islands. The next day’s activities were then presented so that you could map out your day, and make choices on what you will want to partake in. Most often if snorkeling was offered, then there was also an option for a glass bottom boat or panga ride, for those that did not want to swim, for instance. On the days when hikes were offered, there were alternates as well, for those who could not or did not want to hike. There is an activity available for everyone, no matter the age or fitness level! Each evening is topped off with a lovely meal with new found friends onboard, where all discuss their sightings and adventures of the day!
The wildlife encounters are really what the Galapagos are all about! This is the reason people come! The Galapagos are home to the “Big 15”, which include: Galapagos Albatross, Blue Footed Booby, Nazca Booby, Flightless Cormorant, American Flamingo,Frigate birds, Galapagos Hawk, Land Iguana, Marine Iguana, Santa Fe Land Iguana, Galapagos Penguin, Galapagos Sea Lion, Galapagos fur seal, and the Galapagos Giant Tortoise! We managed to check 11 off the list! Some species can only be seen on the Western Islands, while others only on the Eastern, making it tough to see all 15 in one trip!
The animals, so secure in their safety within the National Park, are so unperturbed by human presence! It is awe inspiring to be so close to them! You do feel as though you have stepped into a National Geographic documentary! One particular outing, we happened upon a mother sea lion who had only just given birth to a pup! We watched the two for a while, before exploring the island further. Upon our return to the beach, we witnessed her leading the pup down to the water for the first time! Amazing!
The snorkeling was so much fun! Swimming with the curious sea lions, colorful parrot fish, sharks, and the untroubled sea turtles, was definitely a highlight of the trip!
One aspect of this cruise that I was not expecting, I think because I was so focused on the wildlife, was the beaches! They are so beautiful! The long stretches of untouched and unspoiled sand with sea lions laid out like dozing dogs, were reason enough to visit, all on their own!
In short the Galapagos Islands were everything I thought they would be, and so much more! It is a destination that will thrill nature and adventure seekers, intrigue the science lovers, and make the animal lovers heart skip a beat! It is also a great destination for families!
There are several different itineraries to choose from, both in length and in destination. You can choose from 4-10 night sailings, or combine itineraries, for back to back sailings to see more of the islands! We can also craft a pre or post cruise stay on Santa Cruz island as well! For those who do not have great “sea legs”, a stay at Finch Bay on Santa Cruz island will allow for great sights, while still sleeping on dry land! There are so many options to choose from! I would love to help create the perfect Galapagos itinerary to fit your needs! Let’s plan an Adventure! Contact- Passport for Adventure
PassportforAdventure 