Easter at El Monasterio at Hacienda Cusin with family — in San Pablo, Imbabura, Ecuador.

What is it like? See a sample itinerary.

Galapagos Islands have lured adventurous travelers for decades. With the improvements in the flight to the islands 600 miles of the coast of Ecuador, the ease of access is greatly improved from the early days of long noisy motoring in small simple boats.

The islands are volcanic rock. It is rare to see a palm tree!  The point is to get to your cruise ship and enjoy circumnavigating the islands in usually calm waters of the Doldrums. Each island will be completely unique to the other including birds species and animals and topography.

The first transfer from the simple airport is by bus to the coast of Baltra Island to a ferry to your boat.

The most comfortable and eco-friendly way to enjoy the Galapagos Islands is from a cruise ship. Choose the length of time you can spend; either  4, 5 or 7 night trip.  There are two segments of most tours; select the northern route or the southeastern loop.  Then consider what size boat you would like. We strongly suggest smaller ships that accommodate 16 – 24 passengers as they will be able to access smaller harbors. Catamarans tend to be more stable, however single hull ships are certainly comfortable.

All boats are carefully scheduled so every destination is not be crowded with too many ships are in one location.

This is why at certain times of year, Christmas, Easter and summer vacation times,  sell out months in advance.

The weather on the equator, at 0 degrees latitude,  reflects the altitude – so the islands are always very warm and humid. The water currents change because this is where the Humboldt current sweeps down from the northeast meeting the Pacific waters from Antarctica. Therefore wet suits are very important when you find the water is very cold.  Snorkeling equipment with flippers and masks and wet suits are usually available on the boats. Some travelers prefer to bring their own.

Each day, there will be 2 – 3 excursions from the boat to a different island destination. Inflated rubber rafts that hold 8 people will carry you to either a “wet landing” or a dry landing on the beach.

Your time in the midst of the unique delicate ecosystem is a priority. Whether snorkeling along a carefully selected reef, walking on the black sandy coastline to find turtle tracks, or hiking on the rocky volcanic surface, each visit is special.

The animals and birds will not be afraid. They may be curious, or they may ignore you. Travelers are to strictly adhere to the rules to not touch or feed or disturb the wildlife.

A small seal walking up and by me. These guys blend into the rocks and seem to emerge from any and all directions.

All groups travel with a naturalist guide from the islands who is trained in this special field. The guides go through years of training and are often given additional training sessions to keep abreast of new information.

Waiting for the transfer ferry can be a very warm experience as it is very humid. Plan to bring a water bottle, maybe a snack and a sun hat!

The upper deck of the Natural Paradise with hot tub and covered dining area is a perfect way to bid the day goodby. The rooms are air conditioned – not necessary  most nights, but much appreciated during the heat of mid day.

Blue footed booby about to take a walk!

Snorkeling in deep water off of Rabida Island

Isabella Island is very remote, beautiful beaches and one old hotel here. Iguanas love it here – they look just like dinosaurs. We decided to add on a couple of nights to explore this island. Being island bound “in retreat” here, removed from worldly distractions was a perfect closure to our naturalist experience after the cruise.

A healthy, red booted booby.

The Nazca booby, a cousin of the red and the blue footed variety

The Natural Paradise

Read comments from some New View Travelers about their trip to the Galapagos.