Where the Wild Things Are: The Galapagos Islands

by Lisa Spiller, Luxury Travel Advisor affiliated with Preferred Travel & Company.

Lisa@PreferredNaples.com

www.preferrednaples.com

It matters when you travel, how you travel, and who you travel with to the Galapagos Islands. This wondrous volcanic archipelago off the coast of South America appeals to everyone with a sense of adventure, a desire to connect with nature and an interest in seeing wildlife in their authentic habitat.

Unlike several island destinations, a vacation to the Galapagos Islands is not a beach vacation. The experience is expedition style travel including trekking magnificent coastlines, snorkeling, kayaking and exploring via rib-boat.

I have longed to visit the Galapagos Islands for over 25 years and finally realized my dream in September. I flew to Quito, Ecuador direct from Miami and enjoyed a day with my small group and private guide exploring this 491 year-old UNESCO Centre before hopping on a connecting flight through Guayaquil to Baltra, Galapagos.

From Baltra, we crossed the channel via bus to Santa Cruz Island where we drove past farms in the highlands, to the most famous place to see Giant Tortoises in the Galapagos, the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora. Walking within arms-length of hundreds of gigantic Galapagos Tortoise, observing their behavior and taking photos was a genuine highlight!

From the highlands, we traveled back to the marina and climbed into a Panga rib boat which transferred us to our floating accommodations, the 47 passenger yacht La Pinta.

How you travel the islands matters, and this boat is one of many options, but it’s not for everyone. If you like the idea of camping, and enjoy the sensation of rocking and bobbing in the water and the sound of the anchor, this may suit you.

I had the great pleasure of being assigned the most forward cabin adjacent to the anchor. I experienced the anchor chains, winching and cranking noises and full force of rough waters hitting the bow in order to provide you with this hot travel tip: Avoid La Pinta cabin 302. If you appreciate more posh accommodation and pampering, Silversea and Celebrity cruises offer purpose-built luxury ships that accommodate 100 guests. These larger ships offer a smoother ride due to their modern stabilizers, and the larger size of the vessel means more public spaces with modern cruise comforts like a spa, fitness center and plush suites, water toys like stand-up paddleboards, room service and butler service. More my style, but not everyone’s style, so there is something for everyone in the Galapagos.

Who you travel with matters too! I had the joy of traveling with six other American Travel Advisors who shared my curiosity and quest for soft adventure. On La Pinta, there was a large group from South America and a group from Germany. These groups stuck together, thick as thieves and did not socialize with us, which was an interesting observation.

The reason to travel to the Galapagos is to get up close and personal with the unique endemic wildlife. The Galapagos is famous for the Giant Galapagos Tortoise, the Blue Footed Boobies, the Galapagos Penguins, the Sea Lions, and the Red-Footed Boobies, all endemic to the Galapagos, and not found anywhere else in the world. These animals live and reign supreme on these protected habitats and are more curious than afraid of humans, providing an unforgettable experience.

The time of year one visits the Galapagos Islands matters. While this is a year-round destination and the temperature remains between 68-75 degrees, it’s the temperature of the water that makes the big difference to snorkelers. Snorkeling is a highlight. There is nowhere else in the world that one can snorkel with sea lions and penguins in their natural habitat while these playful Galapagos creatures swim circles around you.

We were provided shorty wet suits and snorkel gear, but the water temperature took my breath away. Despite the call of the wild oceanic world beneath the water’s surface, I just couldn’t catch my breath! In September, the Humboldt Current from the Antarctic chilled the water to a point that made snorkeling nearly intolerable. I definitely missed out because those who managed the 60 degree water temps witnessed underwater highways of gigantic vibrant Red and Chocolate Chip Starfish, giant Parrot Fish, gargantuan Angel Fish, Sharks, Manta Rays, Sea Turtles, Sand Dollars, and Penguins!

I recommend bringing a full wet suit and steering toward December – March if you are cold-sensitive.

Which islands to visit? Each island offers unique encounters with the endemic wildlife. Cruises are offered to specific islands based on Ecuadorian National Park guidelines limiting visitor population. Santa Cruz is a must-visit destination, featuring thousands of Giant Tortoises almost the size of golf carts!

Bartolome Island features families of Sea Lions on the white coral sand beaches and bright red and blue Galapagos Crab. Isabella, Espanola and North Seymour are home to the Blue Footed Boobies. Eden Islet is ideal for spotting Galapagos Penguins, sea turtles and the playful sea lions.

Genovesa Island offers remarkable bird life including the Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Frigate and Short-Eared Owl. Each day in the Galapagos Islands unfolded with breakfast onboard, followed by safari-style expeditions led by naturalists, including hiking, kayaking or snorkeling.

After lunch onboard, down time followed by an afternoon expedition. Cocktails and dinner in the early evening featured presentations and slide shows highlighting the day’s activities and an overview of the following day’s schedule. The pace was peaceful, slower than my pace at home. This is what a lot of people seek in a vacation. However, I can tell you that I would have appreciated a larger ship with other diversions to keep me busy and entertained between expeditions.

Larger 100 guest capacity cruise lines offer fitness centers, spa facilities, swimming pools, hot tubs and fun water toys. I recommend adding Lima and Cusco, Peruto the back end of a Galapagos vacation. You will fly from Baltra to Lima, enjoy the High Andes cultural experience and the mystic UNESCO World Heritage site of Cusco before flying home direct from Lima.