See The Islands On A Galapagos Cruise

There are a few variations of Galapagos island tours available, depending on how much time you have to spend in this beautifully unique and awe-inspiring place. Only five of the islands are inhabited by humans; the rest are set aside for the province's protected fauna and flora in the National Parks which occupy all but about three percent of the Galapagos. Tours to the parks will introduce you to a land where giant tortoises live for a century, where birds have blue feet, and where you can see vastly different species like marine iguanas and flightless cormorants taking to the water together.

The best way to absorb the variety of the islands is to embark on a Galapagos cruise which will allow you to see how the animals differ from place to place. You may even be able to notice the variations of finches (or "buntings") from island to island just as Charles Darwin did on his famous voyage in the nineteenth century.

You can choose between a number of Galapagos cruise experiences, with the craft varying depending on your tastes and length of the voyage. There are graceful sail-powered yachts; large, sturdy vessels that have facilities for ninety passengers; and smaller, sleek luxury yachts with about 20 cabins.

Each boat on the best Galapagos cruises will have its own naturalist guide who will accompany you on daily excursions to the islands, explaining about the curious and unique species of animals you may come across, and how they influenced Charles Darwin’s great theory.

If boats aren’t your thing, or perhaps you would prefer a more settled experience on your Galapagos holiday, cruises aren’t the only option. There are a few hotels on the islands; the recommended hotels are on Santa Cruz. The Royal Palm luxury hotel is one example. It is an exclusive retreat with a dual emphasis on seclusion and nature. Another is the Finch Bay Eco resort, an award-winning hotel with its own beach.

A compromise between the cruise and hotel experiences is one of the Red Mangrove Galapagos Lodges tours. This is a multi-centre style holiday that moves between three hotels over a five day period. You will still get to see three different islands, but without the emphasis on boating. This will suit someone who wants to see the marvel of more than one of the Galapagos Islands, but would prefer to have accommodation on dry land.

Galapagos Islands tours tend to begin in Ecuador, the nearest mainland landmass and the country that controls and protects the islands. Ecuador's busiest port and largest city is Guayaquil. Some ten-night Galapagos cruise packages will set aside a day for exploration of this vibrant city with its historical district of wooden buildings and riverside monuments.

Peru is the other gateway country for Galapagos Island tours, so you should bear in mind that the best tour operators will help you form an itinerary of your own. Imagine seeing the wonders of the Machu Picchu and the Galapagos in one holiday!

However you approach your Galapagos cruise, the islands are certain to amaze you. Where else can you walk on a cooled lava flow and then have a conversation with a sea lion on the beach?

By: Louise Mumford

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Louise Mumford is a holiday specialist at South American Experience, a company that specialises in tailor-made arrangements for www.southamericanexperience.co.uk/destination.asp?country=GAL®ion=Galapagos%20Cruises">Galapagos cruise holidays and trips to destinations in South and Central America. Our dedicated team has two decades of first-hand experience in the Latin America region.