Quasar galapagos1/3/2023 ![]() ![]() While there’s a library on board, I found myself jealous of the younger kids who brought along checklist books and simple guides to keep track of wildlife. At the end of the day, I often couldn’t keep my finches straight. #Quasar galapagos plus#I’m talking 13 types of finches, each with a special niche, plus hundreds of other species of rare fauna and flora. However, there are a LOT of birds in the Galapagos, and a guide wasn’t always available to point out each one. Our Quasar guides were fascinating career naturalists who had each been guiding in the Galapagos for more than 25 years. (Evolution assigns about 12 people to each guide). The Galapagos authorities require that every visitor to the islands be in a professionally guided group of no more than 16 people and on a boat that doesn’t exceed 100 people. Pack a guide to birds, plants and wildlife Because I didn’t have a waterproof case, I missed a lot of the action.Īnother thing I’d pack next time: A waterproof stash bag to keep both my phone and my clothes dry on the bumpy pangas and on the beach. I didn’t need an underwater camera for these on-the-water rides, but I was afraid to pull out my phone to grab quick pictures for fear of it might get wet. ![]() We also paddled kayaks - often alongside playful sea lions. The small ships in the Galapagos rely on pangas, or inflatable dinghies, to speed passengers from boat to beach. However, I left my waterproof phone case at home, thinking I’d only use the camera. My photos of twirling sea lions, swimming sea tortoises and neon fish are my favorite trip souvenirs. I invested in a top-notch underwater camera and would recommend the same to anyone taking a trip like this. Bring all the waterproof cases and pouches you might want to keep your belongings safe and dry. Waterproof everythingĪ lot of what makes a Galapagos cruise fascinating is the time spent exploring on the water, in the water and on islands close to water. While you’re at it, take a fashion note from the guides - who are usually covered head to toe in sun-protective gear - and throw in a neck gaiter, too, so the back of your neck doesn’t take on a ruby-red hue. For island explorations, a wide-brimmed hat (not just a baseball cap) should be mandatory. Instead of simply bringing topical lotions, I’d recommend sun-shield clothing - including long-sleeved swim shirts - with built in SPF. One afternoon, after peeling off the shortie wetsuit that Quasar issues each guest, I sat chatting in my bathing suit for about 10 minutes - and quickly turned the color of a Sally Lightfoot crab. (Photo by Melissa Klurman for The Points Guy) If I ever get back to see the playful sea lions, the easy-going boobies and the technicolor marine life, here’s what I would do differently now that I know the secrets to traveling in the Galapagos. With just a few weeks to shop and pack for the cruise, I focused on what I thought were the necessities - and sometimes I went astray. In hindsight, though, even the most memorable getaway could have gone more smoothly. ![]() It was an amazing family vacation.įor more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s new cruise newsletter. The small ship truly felt like home after a week, as we made friends with what turned out to be fewer than 20 fellow travelers ranging from 10 to 80 years of age. The trip exceeded all expectations: The abundant wildlife was surreal, the scenery stupendous and the guiding some of the best I’ve ever experienced (and I’ve been on dozens of African safaris). (Extra bonus: To board our 32-person Quasar ship, everyone also had to present a negative COVID-19 antigen test.) I was as enthusiastic about the wildlife I was about to encounter as I was about Ecuador’s mandatory vaccination policies, both for arrivals in the country and then again to enter the protected Galapagos Islands. Enticed by special fares and a desperate need to get away, I finalized our travel plans just three weeks before we sailed to Darwin’s evolutionary proving ground. Many (OK, most) travelers book an adventure cruise to the Galapagos well in advance. The solution came in the form of a bucket-list idea that suddenly became attainable: a small ship cruise through the remote Galapagos Islands on Quasar Expeditions‘ Evolution. We wanted an adventure that felt both COVID-19 safe and would be equally appealing to myself, my husband and my teenage son. After a long pandemic of being landlocked in my suburban New Jersey home, my family and I were ready for an adventure. ![]()
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