Summer cruising through Galapagos' biodiversity

Wednesday 11th December 2019 09:26 EST
 
 

The Galapagos Islands is famously known for Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. A soul-searching experience or a deep dive into nature's fearless wildlife, and pristine volcanic landscapes the Islands are a perfect getaway if you are planning a summer beach holiday next year.

Insulated from the commercial tourist hubs, it is nestled 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. Now, the atypical tropical paradise is home to unique animal species found nowhere else on Earth. Blue-footed boobies, swim with sea lions, snorkel in clear waters and marine lizards all celebrate their freedom on this archipelago. 

The place offers an adventure to its lakes, lava tunnels, secluded beaches, tortoise sanctuaries, sinkholes and more.

How to get there

Flights to the Galapagos Islands depart from only two cities in Ecuador: Quito and Guayaquil. If you are travelling through Europe, most flights depart from Amsterdam or Madrid to Quito. Then you will have to board a flight from Quito/Guayaquil to Galapagos Islands. All flights are with either TAME or LATAM, which are both reputable and reliable South American airlines. 

A Galapagos Islands trip costs a pretty penny thanks to the $100 entry tariff and pricey island cruises. But a multi-day cruise around the Islands is the best way to see the more remote areas in the archipelago and to see the more undisturbed wildlife.

So how is it cruising the Galapagos Islands? The most popular way is going on a small-scale Galapagos cruise, which brings you to several islands within a short time. You sail at night and arrive to a different island every morning. Cruise packages typically include all accommodation and meals, visits to the islands with a certified naturalist, and access to snorkeling gear and kayaks.

Types of cruise ships

People can cruise the Enchanted Islands aboard different type of vessels such as sailboats, catamarans, or big yachts. The most common way to cruise the archipelago is by small yachts. These cruises are often coupled with visits to Peru's Machu Pichu, Eucadorian rainforests or the islands of Baltra, Genovesa, San Cristobal among others. Each one of these options varies based on their facilities and budgets. 

Long navigations during the night

One of the good things about cruising the Galapagos Islands is that most of the vessels navigate the longest journeys during the night. Why? Because it is the only way that visitors can experience the different islands during the day, and do the different activities. So, expect to wake up every day in a different environment. However, some days require daytime navigations.

Top tourist attractions

León Dormid, an island in Isla San Cristóbal bearing resemblance to a sleeping lion as it much favoured for snorkelling between the rocks. Whereas, El Chato Tortoise Reserve in South of Santa Rosa offers a sneak peak into the catatonic tortoises. Other attractions include volcanic landscapes of Volcán Alcedo, Charles Darwin Reseach Station, Darwin Lake and Maprae among others.

Unforgettable sunsets

Galapagos is unforgettable by itself, but one of the most remarkable things that visitors can experience are the sunsets. Cruising the archipelago let aboard passengers experience unique sunsets, especially during those days that the yachts start to navigate earlier. 

Visiting new places is not the exception, especially while going to natural places such as the Galapagos islands. It is not important just to consider our individual actions, even little ones that can make the difference. You might want to pay attention to aspects such as the use of biodegradable products onboard, local people being employed and getting local suppliers.


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