by Judy Bereza, Guest blogger

Please Note:   Last week Judy contributed  a terrific blog post about taking the train to Machu Picchu.  Through no fault of hers (it was all mine), the email update didn’t go out to regular subscribers.  Darn.  Please use this link to read it.   https://designdestinations.org/2024/04/riding-the-hiram-bingham-train-to-machu-picchu/Or Simply go back to the home page and click on it after you enjoy this post about her fantastic trip to the Galápagos Islands.        SJS 

The Galapagos Islands.  It’s on almost everyone’s bucket list, including ours.  Ecuador declared it a national park in 1959.  in 1978, it was the very first site to be listed by the World Heritage Committee.  Charles Darwin put it on the map with his Origin of Species.  The location is exotic, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The 13 islands that make of the Galapagos are populated with animal species unknown anywhere else in the world.  The scenery is spectacular. The list goes on.

Ecuador is committed to preserving these unique islands, and there are stringent requirements for visitors.  For example, the park “closes’ at 6:00 p.m.  That means all passengers must be back on their ships by that time.  That was not a problem for us, because. we returned to a National Geographic ship called the Islander II.

Among all the options for cruising the islands, this ship offered the best combination of number of passengers, 48 maximum with a crew of 56, four Naturalists on board, extensive and active daily itineraries, and, with full disclosure, a high level of service.  That’s already quite a list.  Then add opulent staterooms, incredible and beautifully presented food, a spa, inclusive first rate wine and cocktails, a photography expert, a doctor on board, and you have the complete package.

Every evening, a presentation about the Galapagos was offered by one of the Naturalists.  Included was a variety of options for the next day.  Did you want to snorkel?  How aboutkayaking?  Touring in a Zodiac?  Interested in exotic birds?  Or perhaps a hike on one of the uninhabited islands teeming with wildlife.    If all of the above was on your list, not a problem, you were accommodated.  If you were into photography, the on board  professional photographer offered several presentations to help you improve yourphotos.

The photography program was an inspired addition to the tour..  We 42 passengers must have taken thousands of photos, and we all improved our proficiency.  We submitted our favorites to the onboard photographer, and he put together a “guest” photos slide show. for our last night onboard, which was later sent to each one of us as a lasting memory. of our amazing cruise.  

Don’t forget to go back to last week’s blog post contributed by Judy Bereza about taking the train to Machu Picchu.  Click on this link now to enjoy it.    You won’t be sorry.  

Dick and Judy Bereza hiking off into the wilds of Galapagos.  Judy Bereza is a regular contributor to DesignDestinations. She and her husband enjoy adventures in the world that often include wildlife and/or horticulture.  It is lovely when she shares them with us.