Thursday, April 18, 2024

Galapagos Travel Center

cruise to galapagos islands

Then we make culinary magic in venues such as the upscale Seaside Restaurant and alfresco Ocean Grill on Celebrity Flora. In every restaurant on every ship, fine dining will be the highlight of every evening. We work hard to minimize our footprint, and Ecuador’s secretary of tourism has acknowledged our efforts. We support the community by sourcing fresh seafood from local fishermen and pillow treats from local chocolatiers.

Disney+ and National Geographic Unveil Galápagos Islands Giveaway for Earth Day: Here’s How to Enter - Hollywood Reporter

Disney+ and National Geographic Unveil Galápagos Islands Giveaway for Earth Day: Here’s How to Enter.

Posted: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 22:38:06 GMT [source]

Galápagos wildlife

Tortuga Bay - located on Santa Cruz Island- gets its name from the black sea turtles that lay their eggs here. With a beautiful white sandy beach, Tortuga Bay also offers amazing snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands. For most, a trip to the Galápagos is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We'll take you to a range of the best spots to see Galápagos wildlife and take part in activities to make it an unforgettable expedition cruise. Galápagos is one of the planet’s most beautiful and ecologically fascinating destinations.

Why Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic?

Hurtigruten makes cruising the Galapagos Islands more affordable by waiving the single supplement on several of its Galapagos cruises. The ship carries a maximum of 90 passengers, and its operations are carbon-neutral. MS Santa Cruz II’s crafted itineraries give you some of the best island coverage and wildlife viewing opportunities in the Galápagos. Many excursions take place at exclusive visitor sites, meaning we’ll often have entire areas to ourselves.

Best Galapagos itineraries

14 of the Best Galápagos Cruises - Travel + Leisure

14 of the Best Galápagos Cruises.

Posted: Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

We’ve been officially certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid Travel, you can rest assured you’re travelling to improve the planet. Expect to pay somewhere between $5,000 and $12,000 per traveler depending on the ship, itinerary, and length of the voyage. These small boats have a unique hull design, like the dual parallel runners of a sled, that many believe makes catamarans more stable in the water. All cabins on the ship — including the 430-square-foot master suite — have balconies and are done up in welcoming, contemporary decor. The ship's design is outdoor-focused, with alfresco dining and a bar near the Jacuzzi.

Origin, Theory & Evolve

The line charters all of its vessels, which means it doesn't own the ships. When you sail with A&K, you'll be on one of four ships, depending on the specific itinerary you choose. Because of that, it's common for more than one travel company or cruise brand to sell sailings on the same ship. If you're confused about which ship to book or how to book it if it's offered by multiple companies, go directly through your favorite cruise line, or contact your travel agent. Due to government restrictions, it's not easy for cruise lines to break into the Galapagos market. A few well-known brands have done it, including Avalon Waterways, Celebrity Cruises, Hurtigruten Expeditions and Silversea Cruises.

Hurtigruten Expeditions

This remarkable archipelago is where Darwin developed his theory of evolution, and even today it remains an ecology hotspot and a haven for nature lovers. Now home to throngs of spiky marine iguanas, giant turtles and blue-footed boobies, the islands are a haven for these creatures as well as visiting nature buffs. After all, where else can you laze beach side with a seal or kayak alongside inquisitive penguins? Our Galapagos Islands cruises mean you can see all this archipelago has to offer from the comfort of our well-appointed boats.

cruise to galapagos islands

Galapagos Islands cruises

The vessel is bright and modern but with only the most basic in-cabin comforts. (There are no TVs or bathtubs — showers only.) Although all cabins are outsides (no balconies), the ship does have a small fitness center, two lounges, a small selection of books and a game and movie room. Sixteen-passenger Eden is also equipped with eight cabins, seven of which sleep two people in twin-bed configurations and one of which offers a queen bed. Aqua Mare joined the Aqua Expeditions fleet in 2021 and underwent a total overhaul to bring it up to the standards of the luxury line, which operates four other yacht-style ships. Refurbished in 2019, it offers modern touches without too much excess.

How far are the islands from mainland Ecuador?

In addition, the cuisine is extraordinary — the Ecuadorian executive chef even takes time to explain the local ingredients he uses. Select expeditions feature guest National Geographic biologists, authors and photographers, who can help you get the perfect wildlife photos. The cruises are popular with families, and a diving program is available for advanced divers. River cruise line Avalon Waterways is known for sailings in Europe and on the Mekong.

Post-Programme Ecuadorian Amazon Adventure

Dive trips last either seven or 14 nights, and itineraries include up to four dives a day. Explorer Ventures' two live-aboard vessels, the Humboldt Explorer and Tiburon Explorer, accommodate 16 passengers each. The Humboldt has a large dive deck, which makes it easier to get into and out of your dive gear. The eight-day excursion includes up to 19 dives and the 11-day excursion includes up to 28. If you’re a certified scuba diver, a live-aboard dive boat might be for you. These boats are built to accommodate the specific needs (and gear) of divers, and they navigate special routes and itineraries that include top dive sites.

While the highlands of the larger islands stay green with the atmospheric mist that creeps over the skyline, there’s little precipitation around the sea-level islands. The warm season brings higher temperatures to the islands and the water that surrounds them, while the skyline gets a little cloudier, with rain a daily occurrence. That being said, there’s something to see all year round, with giant tortoise eggs hatching in January, blue-footed boobies dancing their way through courtship in May, and fur sea lion pups abundant in October. We’ve taken care of the details so you can focus on spotting wildlife.

cruise to galapagos islands

Instead of museums and historic sights, you’ll visit uninhabited islands to encounter marine iguanas, sea lions, unspoiled beaches, and the adventures of a lifetime. With pleasant temperatures all year long, the best time to visit the Galapagos Islands is whenever you’re ready to go. While you can see wildlife all year, December is hatching season for the giant tortoises, and July is mating season for blue-footed boobies and short-eared owls. Sea turtles lay their eggs early in the year and fully formed marine iguanas typically hatch in April and May.

You’ll have comfortable accommodation on the boat each night as you cruise around the islands of the Galapagos. As a rule, expect your days to be filled with walking treks and snorkelling, all accompanied by an experienced naturalist guide, as well as a variety of optional activities. With the exception of the first and last days of the trip, fresh meals will be provided by the on-board chef for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If weather permits, you can also take a trip aboard the glass-bottomed boat or paddle along the coast of Eden on a kayak. Look out for the Frigatebirds on shore with their characteristic rubbery red throats. You’ll get to witness the famous El Soplador - meaning ‘the blower’ - blowhole blast water 75ft into the air here.

Having multiple naturalist guides aboard Santa Cruz II also means you’ll be able to choose from a wider range of activities each day. You will see much more wildlife cruising and visiting the uninhabited islands than you will visiting the human-populated islands. Expedition cruises are known for taking passengers to remote once-in-a-lifetime destinations. Because expedition ships sail to regions that are often protected, it makes sense that there are rules in place to protect both travelers and the local plants and wildlife native to the areas. Your Galápagos expedition features handpicked landings where you’ll see wildlife in a wide variety of ecosystems. See sea lions basking in the sun on Mosquera islet and giant tortoises in San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz.

Known for its favorable snorkeling opportunities, Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island offers plentiful chances to get up close and personal with underwater life. Onshore, you can spot sea lions, marine iguanas and beautifully colored Sally Lightfoot crabs. Galápagos National Park officials have set a maximum of 100 passengers per vessel, so these are some of the largest ships in the archipelago. Travelers may opt for a larger-capacity cruise ship for more space (such as bigger hallways and staircases for easier movement around the ship) and increased services like an onboard doctor.

Galapagos Travel Advice - You will need a valid passport to visit the Galapagos, with at least 6 months still available. Most countries do not require a visa to enter Ecuador, but checking with your local embassy before making travel arrangements is a good idea. The local currency is the US dollar, but most yachts accept major credit cards.

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