Off to the Islands

This morning we met our travel companions at breakfast before we board the buses to the airport.  We are booked on Avianca to San Christobol.

A short hour and a half flight to cover the 700 miles to the islands, and we are here.  More buses to the marina.

We arrived at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. This is the administrative center of the Ecuadorian province of Galapagos. It has a population of over 10,000. I looked at it on google maps and the airport runway is twice the length or breadth of the town.

Once at the marina we have a couple hours to get used to island life. Shopping, local color, and beer and east at Casa Blanca.

Day One: SAN CHRISTOBAL and Board the Ship

After meeting at Casa Blanca, it was time to take the zodiac to the ship.

Once aboard, we received our room assignments and the first surprise: there are NO cabin keys. Then off to attending the orientation briefing and the abandon ship and safety drill.

Then off to the buffet lunch.

After lunch, the luggage had been delivered and then it is time for the lecture on the Natural History of the Galapagos.

At 1530 our first excursion. Around Wreck Bay.

Our first Sea Lions

Sea Lions on the Beach

Blue-footed Boobies

Drowning Juvenile Frigate Bird.  these birds do not have working oil glands to waterproof their feathers.  The result is that if a bird lands in the water, it quickly becomes too waterlogged to fly itself out of the water.

Sea Lions around the bay

The Day in Guayaquil

After arriving we hit the executive suite (part of the perks of Gold Hilton Honors status) for snacks then headed to the room to rest.

Followed by a dip in the pool:

We then went to lunch downtown. Our destination was the casual restaurant at the Hotel Continental. The restaurant was packed and the hostess sent us upstairs to the guy restaurant,  a much more tourist friendly and less local restaurant.

The Offer

We are willing to pay for a Category 1 cabin.

They include airfare from Miami or offer us $450 pp airfare credit. 

LATAM Airlines has direct flights from JFK to Guayaquil,  Ecuador for about $650.

Well, Lindblad had no cabins available that we are willing to pay for.  So we are waitlisted.

Within 24 hours, Nat Geo called and took our offer at the lowest rate for a cabin to be assigned later.

So we are on!!

Who are we going with?

National Geographic / Lindblad

Mainly due to reputation. The ship, National Geographic Endeavour II has only 95 guests.

  There are several naturalist and a photo expert on board.

We cannot figure out what their exact but having spoken with the agents I am confident we will see our highlight list. 

Some more thoughts on the Galapagos

There seem to be many basic cruise choices. The Cardinals: North, East, South, West. Plus center and outer rings and combinations of all the above.

All seem to have similar itineraries. So the choice is going to come down to providers schedules,  availability, and reputations.

Here is a great map to start planning.  

Here is a great map to help plan!! I wish I knew who first published it to give them credit... my version was on a photocopy with scribble!

And here are some of the tour packages and why choosing the right one is so difficult

http://www.wildernesstravel.com

http://www.ecoadventures.com

http://www.go2peru.com

http:\\arctictotheamazon.wordpress.com

Let's look at the Galapagos Island options.

•       December is high tourist season
•       But January is bargain price
•       Having stalled over the idea of when to go it seems no time is bad.
•       The trip looks expensive, but…
•       Airfare is included on some tours
•       All shore excursions are included on most tours
•       There are lots of choices of tours
•       I plotted several of the itineraries on several copies of the map.  I’ve been plotted which birds and animals we expect to see on which Islands, coves, and inlets. Then we made a list of the animals and creatures we wish to see.
•       The animal list is quite easy blue-footed boobies, penguins, and giant tortoises.