Galapagos adventure
Written: Dec 27 '02 (Updated Dec 30 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: it will restore your sense of wonder and amazement in nature
Cons: a long journey, but worth the effort
The Bottom Line: The Galapagos is a unique adventure that should not be missed by anyone with an interest in natural history.
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| h1747w's Full Review: Galápagos Islands |
I have dreamed about visiting the Galapagos since I was a child and saw a television special on the giant tortoises and strange marine iguanas. My curiosity was further piqued as a college student learning about geology and evolution. Now I am 53 and finally had an opportunity to visit these remote islands: they did not disappoint me in any respect! I travelled with my wife and another couple, none of whom were really familiar with the Galapagos prior to our journey (but all of whom enjoy "active" travel).
We are all well-travelled, and certainly one trip to the Galapagos does not qualify me as an "expert", but I would like to share the following opinions with those who are considering this trip:
1) How long a visit? Cruises vary in length from 3 to 7 days or longer. We were on a 7 day cruise. Each island and area of disembarkment was quite different, with its own array of flora, fauna, and geological quirks. We certainly were never bored and would have risked missing the "airport of the albatross", the top of El Junco, or the mating sea turtles in Black Turtle cove if we had taken a shorter cruise. Needless to say, you cannot "see it all" in a week, but why travel so far if you are going to miss most of the highlights on a shorter cruise.
2) Which ship? Being fearful of ruining a good vacation due to seasickness, we opted for the Galapagos Legend, the largest ship that sails the Galapagos (maximum of 90 passengers). The seas were mildly rough at times but we experienced no major problems. However, speaking to tourists we met who were on small boats, seasickness was definitely an issue for them. The Legend had lovely facilities and an enthusiastic staff. The cabins and public spaces on board the ship were quite nice, including fairly spacious deck space (which is important for those who might fear some claustrophobia aboard a small vessel). Embarking and disembarking aboard the "pangas" was handled very efficiently (although we were fortunate that at the time of our visit there were only 50 or so guests aboard). We could highly recommend the Galapagos Legend.
3) "Wet suits" were not necessary for snorkelling. The ship provided snorkelling equipment at a very modest price for those who did not bring their own. One mistake I made is not bringing my best camera to the Galapagos. I feared that the camera and lenses would get ruined during a "wet landing". While this certainly could have happened, I should have invested in a waterproof camera case (or even a sealed plastic bag) and brought the "good camera". The photo opportunities were amazing, and a "point and shoot" camera didn't do the islands justice.
4) A major expense is the airfare travelling from the US to Ecuador and then to the Galapagos: we had a "package deal" through a tour operator that kept this aspect of cost to a minimum. The cost of the cruise itself seems "high" at first glance, but recall that unlike cruises to Alaska, Europe, etc, where you could spends large amounts of money each day on "tours", all of the daily expeditions were included in the price of the Galapagos cruise. We were up at dawn, in our "panga" minutes after breakfast, led by well-educated informative and entertaining "class III" naturalists who escorted us on our hikes. In late morning it was back to the ship for a brief change of clothes (and bathroom break: there are no "facilities" on most of the islands), then often a guided snorkelling expedition, and after lunch usually a another expedition to shore with the naturalist. A busy day that requires good physical fitness! Returning to the ship at dusk for dinner, you are pleasantly exhausted.
Have a great trip!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
h1747w
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Reviews written: 2
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