Galápagos Islands Nature and Wildlife Expedition
One of the most exotic and unspoiled destinations on the planet is the Galápagos Islands. An archipelago of volcanic islands in the Eastern Pacific is home to some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet and a protected land and marine environment that was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized in 1978. The abundant variety of wildlife allowed Charles Darwin to observe the differences from island to island in 1835 and led to the theory of evolution.
We planned our Galápagos journey through Boutique Travel Advisors who crafted the perfect itinerary which started in Quito, Ecuador an alluring capital city- also a World Heritage Site. We had time to experience and stroll Quito’s historic Centre and venture a few miles out of the city to visit the Equator where we had the opportunity to stand with one foot in the Northern hemisphere, and one foot in the Southern!
From there, we flew to the Galápagos to begin our cruise which visited the islands of Baltra, Santiago, Rábida, Bartolomé, Genovesa and Santa Cruz. Our home away from home was the HX MS Santa Cruz II which provided a relaxed atmosphere in high quality surroundings. As required by Ecuadorian law, the ship has a maximum capacity of 90 allowing each guest to have personal service onboard and intimate experience with the animals with each naturalist-led shore excursion while at the same time never overwhelming the natural environment.
Each island was a completely new experience – from ecosystem to climate to wildlife. Some islands were barren rocky lava fields, others were lush tropical jungles. Each of these terrestrial habitats was home to a different and iconic animal – marine iguanas, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies and Darwin’s finches. In the water we encountered manta rays, seals, penguins, sharks and a multitude of tropical fish.
As an HX Expedition Cruise, our journey stayed true to its name. With a variety of morning hikes, shore excursions, snorkeling opportunities, stargazing, nature lectures and science experiments there was always something keeping us busy. The ship’s onboard Expedition Team consisting of local guides allowed us to directly encounter the many natural wonders in our small zodiac boats and landing parties.
The Galapagos Islands offered us the perfect mix of adventure, creating cherished memories, wildlife, landscapes, and natural wonders making it a perfect ESCAPADITA.
PLACE IN A BOX:
Santiago Island – home to a large number of marine birds, sea lions, fur seals and exotic birdlife, and rock formations such as ‘Elephant Rock’ and ‘The Bishop’.
Rábida – known for its red-colored beach it offers a sea lion colony, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches.
Bartolomé – This unearthly landscape is home to Galápagos penguins, sea lions and white tip reef sharks.
Genovesa Island – Known as Bird Island for the assortment of birds among them Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, and storm petrels.
Santa Cruz – The island offers its home to two species of giant tortoise with lush highlands home to dense forests of Galápagos daisies, orchids, and bromeliads.
