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Galapagos Top 10 Things to Do
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Imagine
snorkeling the Galapagos where penguins swim and curious sea
lion pups
stay
close by or diving where dolphins leap and whale and hammerhead sharks
cruise
by.
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Check
out our Galapagos Specials
Search
by Boat Using Keyword Search
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Our "Find a Tour" (upper left) to Search by Style
The
Complete Ecuador Adventure Vacation
Learn
more about each island.
What
to Bring
Weather
and Highlights by Month
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Tourist
Superior
GAP
Adventurer IV
Cruise the Galapagos aboard the G.A.P Adventurer IV, complete with all
necessary comforts, including outside decks for relaxing, a dining room
and a bar. Cabins include WC, shower, hot water and air-conditioning,
and all meals. As with all G.A.P Adventures yachts, staff includes a
certified naturalist guide, ensuring you are in good hands both onboard
and on land...more. |
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First
Class Sailing
Cachalote
Cachalote I accommodates 16 passengers in her 8 cabins: upper/lower
berths and one double cabin all with private baths with hot/cold water
showers and fully independent air conditioning units in each
cabin.
There is plenty of deck space on 3 different wooden decks with seats
and cushions to relax in the shade or sunbathe during the cruise, but
don?t forget that sunscreen!
Enjoy beautiful cruising through the islands...spot dolphins and
whales...snorkel with the sea lions...see birds with blue feet, red
feet or big red 'balloons' on their necks...enjoy the scenery and
volcanoes...and marvel at the colourful beaches. Come, relax and have
fun on our new vessel.
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Deluxe
Sailing Yacht
Mary Anne
Enjoy the informal atmosphere and authentic square-rigger sailing
experience aboard the Mary Anne. A German motor-sailing yacht spanning
over 177 feet long, the air-conditioned Mary Anne offers ample room for
its 16 passengers in its 14 double cabins with private bathrooms.
Complete with a full bar, comfortable seating on the sundecks, and
delicious food, the Mary Anne is sure to delight...more. |
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Deluxe
Cruise Ship
Santa Cruz
The 44 cabin M/V Santa Cruz, built exclusively for Galapagos Islands
cruising was completely renovated in 1998, having been redesigned and
refurbished inside and out. The Santa Cruz has gained worldwide
recognition for its excellent standards, including superb service,
expert crew, the most knowledgeable multilingual naturalist/guides and
menus that feature the very best international cuisine and celebrated
Ecuadorian dishes. Its capacity is for ninety guests...more
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Welcome to the unlimited
choices
of the
Galapagos Islands one of the 7 underwater wonders of the
world. Cocoon
on one of the Enchanted Islands, sail or motor the waters of the
Galapagos or book the
ultimate dive vacation, a live aboard.
Be
a millionaire for a week and charter a Galapagos boat for
your friends and family and sail the enchanted islands in your own
private oasis with crew and staff at your disposal (there
is one for
every budget).
Or if you are
travelling solo, as a couple or family
let us plan your ultimate
vacation. After all, we really do know the Galapagos and it's
boats!
Learn
more about the types of boats and accommodation we have to offer below.
The
UNESCO declared the Galapagos Islands a World Natural Heritage Site in
1978 and subsequently a World Biosphere Reserve in 1985. So having just
returned from the Galapagos, we would like to share with you our
favourite:

 Take
a panga tour around Pinnacle Rock,
one of the most photographed
sites in the Galapagos. Here you will get a close-up view of marine
birds,
including the small colony of Galapagos Penguins nesting on
the
lava ledges (Bartholomew Island).
 Tour
the
Summit Trail through deep volcanic sand and then ascend the
hundreds of wooden stairs to experience the spectacular panoramic views
of Pinnacle Rock and surrounding Galapgos Islands
(Bartholomew
Island).
 See
the Waved Albatross who almost take over the one of the Galapagos
Islands with their
numbers. Steep cliffs provide the perfect runway for take off to ocean
feeding grounds off Ecuador and Peru. It will be months or even years
before the albatross touches down on land again (Espanola).
 Hike
along the trail past the blue-footed booby nests and climb the
rocky plateau to the blowhole. A natural fissure formed in the lava
bedrock, this spectacular sight is accompanied by a loud booming sound
as trapped surf is ejected upwards almost 25 meters in a huge volume of
water (Espanola).
 Swim
with the Galapagos Penguins, the second smallest penguin in the
world and the only penguin living in equatorial (warm) waters. See them
nesting in
the rocky areas (Fernandina Island).
 Hike
through the mangrove on Land's End Trail along the black
sand beach, watching for iguana nests with eggs tucked into the gravel
trail. Land iguanas' favourite nesting site on the volcano's
rim
is often destroyed by eruptions (Fernandina Island).
 Try
and find the wandering lake which appears and disappears, depending
on the volcanic activity. During an eruption in 1968, a
sizeable
volcanic lake lying at the southeast end of the caldera floor relocated
in its entirety to the northwest end (Fernandina Island).
 Snorkel
in the crater at Devil's Crown with marine life such
as
coral, pencil sea urchin, wrasses, angelfish, amberjacks, and many
other fascinating sea creatures (Floreana).
 "Mail"
a postcard at Post Office Bay, the location of the original
wooden barrel placed by the crew of a whaling ship in the 18th
century. The barrel has long since been replaced but the
tradition continues with tourists leaving postcards and others taking
some back to send when they return home (Floreana).

Visit the most popular Galapagos resident "Lonesome George" the
tortoise at the Charles Darwin Research Station and the headquarters of
the Galapagos National Park Service. These organizations jointly run
the tortoise breeding centre here, hatching and raising tortoises to
eventually reintroduce them into their natural habitat throughout the
archipelago (Santa Cruz Island).
If you are like most people planning a vacation to the Enchanted
Islands, you may be wondering what the best way to see the Galapagos
islands is.
This is where our expertise comes in. We totally believe that looking
for the right boat is like looking for that perfect outfit. If you give
us a chance we will find not only the right fit but also one that you
will cherish for years to come.

We offer a wide range of boat/ship tours, from hanging off a catamaran,
relaxing at the helm of a sailing yacht or motoring in a midsize
boat. If you are looking for a few more amenities then maybe one of our
larger cruise ships which accommodates less than a 100 passengers is
for you.
Tourist
Superior Motor Boats and Sailing
Boats:
One up from the lowest category (economy), this is recommended for
those on a budget who are looking for a clean moderate option. These
boats are more basic with smaller rooms offering either lower
or
bunk beds, private bath/shower and air conditioning. however some may
be fan cooled. The food is quite good and the guides mostly Naturalist
II with adequate knowledge of English but with a good knowledge of the
islands.
Boats within this category: mainly Motor Yachts up to 16 passengers.
First
Class Motor Boats and Sailing
Boats:
For those looking for a bit more comfort where air
conditioning is a
given (well in most cases) and rooms are a bit more spacious with
private baths/showers and hot water. Do keep in mind that first class
here is a step above moderate in the western world. These boats offer
good quality meals and some of the best and reputable Naturalists III
guides in the islands. If you are looking for the comforts of everyday
life without breaking the bank then this may be a good choice or you.
Boats within this category: Catamarans, Sailing and Motor Yachts
usually up to 16 passengers.
Deluxe
Motor Boats and Deluxe
Sailing Boats
Most of these intimate "boutique" boats offer the opportunity to cruise
the Galapagos Islands in absolute comfort. Cabins are spacious with
private baths/showers, hot water, nicer furnishings and large bright
windows. Some boats may offer cabins on upper decks (at a
supplement) which are highly recommended. You can expect gourmet chefs
and some of the best dining the islands can offer. Guides on
these
boats are Naturalists III the best in their field.
Boats within this category: Catamarans, Sailing and Motor Yachts
usually from 16-36 passengers
Cruise
Ships
If you feel the need for that "extra safety" like a doctor on board,
"extra amenities", like a social area, separate living/dining room,
maybe a sun deck, small pool or sauna or if you are prone to sea
sickness then this may be a better choice for you. These ships are more
stable, but embarking and disembarking takes longer so you
may
have less time actually seeing the wildlife. The lower cabins are
usually darker with portholes so paying the supplement to upgrade to an
upper cabin with large bright windows is highly recommended. Breakfast
and lunch are normally offered in buffet style while dinner is usually
a "sit down" meal.
Boats within this category: Less then 100 passengers
Expedition
Cruising
This is for those looking for that intimate small-ship expedition with
the opportunity to encounter the islands by Zodiacs and kayaks. Enjoy
the underwater video, glass-bottom boat and hydrophone that bring
seldom seen or heard worlds to life. Every expedition in Gal?pagos is
led by a team of five Naturalists, including an Underwater
Specialist, a videographer and an Expedition Leader, providing a
multitude of resources for a rich and unmatched understanding of all
that you'll see. These offer an unrivalled combination of adventure
travel technology in addition to well-appointed cabins, regional and
sustainable cuisine and friendly, personal service.
Join one of our expedition cruises this year and we guarantee that
you'll see more, learn more, and have a small-ship adventure travel
experience that could change your life forever.
Boats within this category: Islander and Endeavour accommodating 48-60
passengers
Dive
Live Aboard
If you are not interested in carrying your gear on a daily basis, or
you do not want the risk of missing the boat and just want to LIVE, EAT
and
SLEEP diving, this may be the option for you. A dive live aboard in the
Galapagos is not recommended for beginners due to the strong currents
and cold water. Experienced divers however know that the best way to
explore the waters is from the comfort and convenience of a live aboard
dive boat. This normally gives you the option of experiencing two to
three dives daily.
Boats within this category: Usually 16 passengers
Dive
Trips Non Live Aboard
If you enjoy diving but your budget does not allow for a live aboard or
if you prefer the comforts of a hotel room at night this may be for
you. Our average day includes up to three dives for the divers and the
opportunity to sunbathe on deck or visit the islands for the non
divers. This trip gives you the best of both worlds, the opportunity of
discovering the culture of the Galapagos at night while experiencing
the beautiful waters from a boat during the day.
Boats within this
category: Usually 16 passengers
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| To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.- Aldous Huxley |
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