Come, join us on an expedition aboard Celebrity Cruises'
'Xpedition' a beautiful, 100-guestship designed especially to protect the
precious environment you'll be exploring. Our destination is a unique place
in this world consisting of some 40 islands and islets. The area is so remote
that the nearest neighboring land is the country of Ecuador, some 600 miles
away. This is a place where about half the animal and bird species are found
nowhere else on our planet.
Feeling more like a yacht, the Xpedition is ideal for
cruising the Galapagos, and features many of the amenities found on larger
cruise ships. Conditions are tough in these equatorial islands ' hot humid
weather, no shade or visitor facilities on most islands, rocky and dusty
or muddy trails, etc ' so the comfort of the Xpedition can be really appreciated.
You'll love kicking off your hiking boots in a comfortable and attractively
decorated cabin, to lather up in a spacious shower with a real glass door,
use separate his-and-hers maple cupboards, watch satellite TV and relax
while attendants tidy up your backpack, sandy beach towels thrice daily
(64 crew serve the 100 guests). And, at day's end you'll greatly enjoy a
civilized dinner: white tablecloths, a four-course menu and pampered service.
Now for, the piece de resistance, let's explore the thirteen
main islands and visitor sites. Each of which is unique with wildlife in
astonishing abundance and variety. On Isla North Seymour be careful not
to step on all the sea lions basking on the sand. Be amazed at the blue-footed
booby birds performing their mating dances and male frigate birds puffing
out their red throat pouches.
Isla Santa Cruz, different for its lushness, is home
to the three-foot-long land iguanas, wild giant tortoises, and the Darwin
Research center. For a different sight, we go to Isla Bartolome a barren
island and a great place to observe moon like landscapes and volcanic formations.
You've seen the land iguanas and on Isla Isabella you'll observe marine
iguanas inhabiting a salt-lake crater. On Isla Rabida, which is a striking
red color, there is a saltwater lagoon that is home to flamingos and white
tailed pintail ducks. We'll mention one more: Isla Santa Maria where there's
great snorkeling and scuba diving. This island is also the landing place
of the first settlers to the Galapagos.
These islands became part of a national park in 1959.
There are mosquitoes; no bathrooms on the islands and you can leave nothing
behind except for your footprints. No paper products are allowed on the
islands and no touching the wildlife, even when they decide to touch you.
With all of this, why would you want to go to the Galapagos Islands' It
is a nature lover's paradise. You can swim with seals, sea lions, marine
iguanas, dolphins and penguins. Wade through tidal pools and watch marine
iguanas dive from the shoreline rocks into the surf. Wow! You will be under
the watchful eye of naturalists and guides in groups of 12 or so people.
You'll ride Zodiac rafts ashore and experience wet and sort of dry landings.
Tours are, generally, setup for early morning and late afternoon to avoid
the strong sun. You can select three levels of tour difficulty. High could
involve a two-mile walk to view bird and wild life followed by swimming
and snorkeling. A Low difficulty tour could be a 30-minite Zodiac ride to
view sea turtles, rays, and sharks in waters close to shore.
Weather in Ecuador and Galapagos makes this a year round
spot to which to travel. The best time for water conditions is January to
April. The ocean is calm and clear and the water is a bit cooler. During
May to Sept the temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees and it is clear
and chilly. The most expensive time to travel to these islands is June,
July and August, the high season. The US dollar is the official currency
of Ecuador. Take you own snorkel tube for hygienic reasons and a light wetsuit
for warmth in the water. There is very little shopping on the islands, do
it on the mainland in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. You'll fly here
and from home. Then, fly to Isla Baltra to embark the Xpedition for the
cruise/tour of a lifetime!
Written by Ramblin' Rose Mascarenhas of Gadabout Travel
