blue-footed boobies your questions how to get there you will need to fly into either quito or guayaquil on the ecuadorian mainland and spend a minimum of one night on the mainland prior to your cruise then take one of the daily flights to the islands upon arrival you will be met by a representative from your cruise vessel what to bring we will send you a specific list prior to departure generally dress code is very informal but you will need a fleece as it can get quite chilly in the evening sports sandals are ideal for wet landings and sun protection is also essential so be sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat sunglasses and high factor sunscreen families some but not all of the vessels are well equipped for children and our specialists will be able to advise on this the larger vessels are generally more popular as they have more facilities to occupy children and some of them even have specialist family departures so please ask us for further details how much might it cost the price of a
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mammals even those who have seen pictures of the galapagos islands before visiting will not be prepared for the huge numbers of sealions on almost every beach differentiated from seals by their external ears and method of moving on land the galapagos sea lions are irresistible to look at but the larger males in particular must be treated with appropriate respect especially in the mating season between may and january or when the female is nursing her pups most often seen basking in the sun on rocks or sand after a hard fishing session the sea lions are totally different creatures in the water transformed from awkward land animals into graceful agile swimmers they will swoop playfully around you as you snorkel in their midst and love to surface repeatedly around your dinghy the fur seal is less commonly spotted due to its nocturnal habits preferring to hide away in sheltered caves during the day and is not as gregarious as its larger cousins visitors may also be lucky enough to spot wha
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a year in the life of the galapagos there is never a `wrong time to go to the galapagos as the wildlife is there all year and each month brings new wonders below is a rough guide of what you might expect to find month-by-month january as the rainy season starts the islands become greener land birds begin to nest the green sea turtles arrive to lay eggs between now and march and land iguanas begin to breed on isabela island both water and air temperatures rise and stay elevated until june february greater flamingoes start nesting and bahama pintail ducks start their breeding season marine iguanas nest on santa cruz island and the breeding season of the galapagos dove reaches its peak the water temperature reaches a steady 25°c and remains constant until april nazca boobies are at the end of their nesting season swallow-tailed gull august galapagos hawks court on española and santiago nazca and swallow-tailed gulls nest on genovesa and migrant shore birds arrive on the islands staying u
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sagitta sagitta first class a luxurious three-masted tall ship the sagitta is one of the best options for anyone looking for an authentic sailing experience she can accommodate 16 passengers and each of the ten cabins is equipped with bunks the lower berth being a double and the upper a single facilities on-board include a lecture room an upper deck salon/bar a shaded al fresco dining area and an ample upper deck for lounging birding watching dolphins off the bow or stargazing · ten double cabins all with bunk beds double lower berth and portholes · two decks · seven-night cruise only · kayaks on-board sagitta cabin beagle first class refurbished towards the end of 2005 the beagle is a magnificent 105-foot steel hulled schooner with teak decks and a stylish interior 12 passengers are accommodated in six double cabins each with double lower/single upper berths there is ample open and shaded deck space and the guides on-board have an especially good reputation · six double cabins all wi
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mary-anne mary-anne tourist class superior the ss mary-anne is a fast motor-sailing yacht that exudes charm with more than 300 feet of sails and a slim stern she is an elegant sight in the water the interior has a beautiful wood panelled bar-lounge area where guests can enjoy an informal atmosphere the ship has 14 double cabins but only carries 16 passengers at any one time · 14 double cabins twins or bunks with portholes · three decks · seven-night cruises only mary-anne lounge diamante tourist class superior this 112-foot brigantine schooner is one of the smallest boats operating in the galapagos accommodating up to 12 passengers in teak and mahogany-clad cabins the communal areas are bright and airy and the onboard service is amongst the best you will find in the islands a perfect option for those who prefer to be part of a smaller group · six double/twin cabins some bunk portholes · two decks · seven-night cruise only diamante diamante cabin 14
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eclipse medium vessels the two medium sized vessels featured here represent the ideal for many people with the stability of the larger vessels coupled with the intimate atmosphere that can be found on the smaller boats at the time of writing the evolution is being relaunched and promises to rival the eclipse and the isabela ii please call us for further details and updates eclipse first class superior this exclusive 210-foot motor yacht accommodates 48 passengers in her 27 cabins half the usual number for a vessel of her size the eclipse prides herself in preserving the atmosphere of a small boat with features such as al fresco dining and a naturalist guide for every 12 passengers the upper deck has a 20-foot swimming pool poolside bar and observation deck the other three decks house the library shop and the 27 cabins the four suites and deluxe cabins are very spacious and tastefully decorated · · · · 27 cabins including one single four decks seven-night cruises permanent doctor on-boa
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lammer law lammer law an ample and stable 93-foot motor sailer trimaran the lammer law is one of the most attractive vessels operating in the islands she is fully equipped for diving although does offer naturalist departures too there are nine spacious cabins accommodating 16 passengers and one of its best features is the wide expanse of deck space that makes up virtually the whole exterior area of the yacht the main salon is large complete with bar cosy sofas television and stereo the combination of stability grace and speed make this yacht an excellent choice for divers and naturalists alike · · · · eight double or twin cabins all with portholes one deck seven crew plus two naturalist or dive guides seven and nine-night itineraries mostly specialist diving but some naturalist excursions sky dancer sky dancer the sky dancer is a 100-foot vessel which holds a capacity of 16 passengers and is certainly one of the best options for diving enthusiasts the eight well appointed staterooms ar
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sea lions on española a typical day each day is different but the typical structure of a day in the galapagos starts with an early wake up call at about 7am after breakfast you will disembark onto a `panga motorised dinghy and make your way to your landing site you will be aware of exactly what you need to wear and take with you as your guide will have advised you in a briefing the night before in groups of no more than 16 you will then explore the area with your guide each island environment is unique and therefore each island you visit will be a completely different experience the common factor will of course be the curious sea lions sunbathing on the beaches and diving in the sea around you after your excursion if there is time you will probably get an opportunity to snorkel before heading back to your boat for lunch whilst sailing to the next site you can siesta or take up `whale-watch on deck at about 3pm you will be ready for your next land excursion and more snorkelling before
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los roques venezuela if you are looking for something a bit different how about combining your galapagos cruise with venezuela venezuela is a country of incredible natural beauty and contrasts from beach to jungle mountain to flat plain indigenous culture to wildlife and all relatively untouched it is home to angel falls the world s highest waterfall reached from the stunning canaima lagoon in the heart of the gran sabana as well as some of south america s best beaches highlights include merida set in the andes with a spectacular backdrop of five snowcapped mountains known as the `five white eagles driving out of the mountains in an incredible journey of changing environments you enter the llanos an area of wide skies slow rivers and plains stretching to every horizon this is venezuela s wild west a land of hardy llanero cowboys the wildlife in the llanos is prolific especially in the dry season when animals gather around the shrinking watering holes with over 300 species of birds t
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sea lions playing personal experience a specialist s viewpoint i am lucky enough to have visited the galapagos islands on several occasions each experience filling me with awe that there is a place like this still left in the world is nothing short of a miracle it is everything you imagine it could be and more every island i visited was as unique as the whole group of islands themselves there is a wide variety of terrain and vegetation from rugged rocky and volcanic to flat and green covered with endemic plants and cacti there are black sand beaches red sand beaches and of course those pristine white sand ones that entice you in every brochure in amongst these beautiful surroundings is the magnificent wildlife that dominates the environment i have travelled to many places but nowhere have i seen such a variety of species so close at hand with marine iguanas competing for sunbathing space with sea lions birds such as the flightless cormorants and red-pouched great frigates nesting less
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