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The Galapagos RocksBy Sheree Bykofsky
The naturalists (two per yacht!) are very knowledgeable and are eager to explain every detail of topography, geology and zoology. They’ll tell you that the Galapagos Islands were made famous when Charles Darwin visited in the nineteenth century to study their rich variety of wildlife. Coming face-to-face with hundred-year-old turtles is a humbling and awe-inspiring experience, but that is just the beginning. You’ll be thrilled to watch blue-footed boobies soar elegantly into the air and then torpedo dive in groups into the ocean. See a cormorant hanging itself out to dry. Watch the red-billed tropicbird play hit and miss finding its tiny home along the cliff. Witness the flirty, funny courtship dance of the waved albatross and watch as male frigate birds inflate their enormous bright red pouches to attract mates. The Galapagos are a bird-lover’s dream because here the birds show no fear. You can walk right up to them and observe their most intimate behaviors.
If you go: Galapagos Network Hotel Oro Verde by The Galapagos Network |
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TM
The Galapagos rocks! Literally. As you trek over lava
rocks, you might be lucky enough to see a volcano erupting from one of the 19
islands that form the dazzling archipelago. The Galapagos Islands are paradise
to cruise ships large and small filled with outdoor adventurers, animal
enthusiasts, bird watchers, swimmers, snorkelers, hikers and nature lovers.
Penguins, owls, whales and dolphins: they’re all here in the stunning islands of
the Galapagos.
Start your exciting soft adventure trip with one non-stop
flight from the U.S. to Guayaquil, Ecuador. Stay one night at the upscale Hotel
Oro Verde and then take an AeroGal flight in the morning to San Cristobal in the
Galapagos, where your tour begins. For people with good sea legs who like to
travel in small groups, the 20-passenger Ecoventura fleet of small motor-yachts,
an intimate cruise experience halfway between luxury and roughing it, is an
excellent choice. Each cabin has a hot shower facility, a moderately comfortable
bed or bunk and air conditioning. The Dolphin deck provides the most space
during your cruise experience, while the lower decks are more snug. The islands
are surprisingly far apart and require overnight journeys. Ships can be
rocky. Choose a larger ship if you are prone to being seasick.
The
islands are rightfully proud of their location on the equator. You’re mistaken
if you imagine it to be oppressively hot. The weather can get hot in the
afternoon but is mostly dry and temperate. Rarely does it rain, and the evening
brings with it a pleasant, cool breeze. Ecuador itself boasts so many climates
from the Andes to the coast to the rainforest to the islands. On any given day,
you can ski in the morning and swim with sea lions in the afternoon.
Every island presents a unique pleasure: the chance to
examine up close a different exotic species, to look into the soft eyes of a
baby sea lion. Share a private moment with a red-footed booby as she
regurgitates squid to nourish her insistent infant. Find an even more
spectacular view from a bluff. Trek over the moonscapes created by lava
formations. The technicolor palette of the Galapagos includes red sand, white
sand, cobalt blue water, colorful birds and spectacular fish at every turn.
Watch
an iguana chomp on a cactus right through the thorns, and you’ll begin to care
less about creature comforts. The islands are the perfect escape from dirty and
busy city life. No eating or gum chewing are allowed on the islands, and you
won’t find any litter at all. Well-respected, well-preserved and well-marked,
the Galapagos are an almost magical place, where tourists are mindful of
nature’s beauty. Do your soul a favor and escape to the Galapagos, where harmony
rules.