By Lorei Velazco
A vacation in the the Galapagos Islands will be an extraordinary journey. They are located about 1,000 kilometers from Ecuador and is made up of 13 islands. The islands are teeming with all types of wildlife, making this journey unforgettable for nature lovers. Tourists will find playful seals, Sally Lightfoot crabs, frigatebirds, Galapagos marine iguanas and the Galapagos hawk.
Galapagos Islands Cruises
One of the most popular Galapagos Islands vacations is the cruises. The cruises begin in either Quito or Guayaquil, both in Ecuador. There, tourists will hop on a plane and head to one of the Galapagos Islands' airports, Baltra or San Cristobal. Then tourists will await a ride to their ship. The ship options are wide and varied. Tourists have plenty of ship options to meet their needs in terms of budgets, sizes of crowds and number of days at sea. Tourists can book a cruise that will fit from 10 to 100 people. Tourists can find a cruise lasting four to eight days. As of June 2009, the cruise ship rates vary from $749 to $4,750 per night per person (see reference).
Andres Xaura N24-200
Quito, Ecuador
877-436-7512
info@galapagosislands.com
Galapagos Adventure Travel
Another popular tourist vacation in the Galapagos Islands is the Adventure Travels. If a tour of typical sites doesn't excite you, then consider this option. It is sure to be filled with excitement and adventure. For instance, this option includes packages featuring kayaking, mountain-bike riding, horseback riding and snorkeling. The options are categorized as either easy/moderate or moderate/challenging. Depending on which package you choose, you can vacation for seven or eight days with great, already-paid services like some meals, accommodation, snorkeling gear and a guide. As of June 2009, the Adventure Travels vary from $1,650 to $3,037.50 (see reference).
Andres Xaura N24-200
Quito, Ecuador
877-436-7512
info@galapagosislands.com
Land-Based Tours & Hotels
Tourists can also book land-based tours and hotels in Puerto Ayora and around the Santa Cruz Island of the Galapogos Islands. These two places have many places to visit and things to do, such as visiting the Charles Darwin Research Center. Tourists can also spot the Galapagos tortoises and lava tunnels in the highlands. Tourists can go scuba diving, snorkeling and beach-hopping. GalapagosIslands.com suggests tourists check out the following hotels: the Finch Bay, Red Mangrove and Hotel Silberstein. These hotels have special amenities, such as private beaches (Finch Bay Hotel), the ability to accommodate 12 guests (Red Mangrove) and a dive center (Hotel Silberstein).
Andres Xaura N24-200
Quito, Ecuador
877-436-7512
info@galapagosislands.com
Resources
About the Author:
Lorei Velazco worked as a journalist for a television station, in marketing, sales, education and fitness. She holds two Bachelor’s degrees in communications and education.
