Thirty years ago I dreamed of going to the Galapagos Islands to snorkel with sea lions, walk past nesting blue-footed boobies and trip alongside giant tortoises. Sometimes, dreams do come true.
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Making a Plan and Checking It Twice
Boat or land tour? That was the first big hurdle we had to cross. Regardless of what we chose, the time had come to follow along in Charles Darwin’s footsteps.
There are pros and cons to each kind of tour. Boat tours are expensive. Sea sickness is a concern. Land tours are limited in scope. They require extra travel time between islands.
After hours poring over guidebooks, scouring the internet and checking potential trip options with TripAdvisor – we decided a cruise was the way to go. Not ultra-budget, not luxury – somewhere cruising comfortably in the lower middle.
But which boat? Which islands? How many days?
The budget was set. We had a month of travel through Ecuador and Peru. We couldn’t afford more than a small sample of the Galapagos. After days of deliberation and countless hours on the computer, we settled on G Adventures 7-day (Quito to Quito) Land and Sea option.
Galapagos – Ready or Not!
We met our G Adventure representative in Quito, at the Hilton – no less! It was just us and a staff member. After looking over the trip itinerary, we discovered that all of the other tour guests were already travelling on an extended tour. Brad & I would join them in the Galapagos.
From our hotel room overlooking the green expanse of Parque El Ejido, we could see the Basilica in the distance. It was difficult not to get distracted but we needed to focus and sort through a month’s worth of gear. Space is limited on a ship cruise and we had to downsize to one bag. The rest of our gear would stay in storage at the hotel.
On Our Way
The 4:00 a.m. breakfast and 4:30 a.m. departure came far too soon. On the morning flight, we saw signs of heavy rains and flooding of lowlands near Ecuador’s west coast from the plane window.
A quick refuelling stop in Guayaquil, a short hop across a thousand or so kilometres of Pacific Ocean and we are wheels down on Baltra. This tiny island is an old USA military base.
A short 10-minute bus ride to the dock, another short 10-minute boat ride, and into the van with our G Adventure guide for the 45-minute drive up over the highlands and down into Puerto Ayora.
The fog and drizzle lifts. Floral scents fill the air. Deep green, grassy fields hide ancient tortoises.
After 30 years of waiting, we are finally here. Feet firmly planted in the land of Charles Darwin. We spend the afternoon hiking to the powder-fine white sands of Playa Brava – mockingbirds, lava lizards and finches!
Another short walk past sunning marine iguanas to kayaks waiting in Tortuga Bay, paddling past red mangroves to view dozens of mating green sea turtles, young black-tipped reef sharks, and squawking lava herons.
The land and sea are alive. I revel in its wildness. And I can’t seem to get this smile off my face; some things are worth waiting for!
If you have been (or are you planning to go) to the Galapagos, what tips do you have for selecting the perfect adventure to fit your budget?
Looking for more South American travel adventures? Check out these posts:
Dreaming of Travel to Easter Island
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