The Galapagos Islands, located far off the Ecuadorean coast, are remote, inaccessible and expensive to reach. Yet every year, thousands of travelers make the trip by road, plane and then boat to reach the islands and spend days exploring their shores and marine environments. Why?
The Galapagos Islands offer a unique opportunity to see flora and fauna that only exist in this location. Because of the isolated nature of this place, as well as its protected status, the birds and animals do not have a fear of humans. Therefore, it’s quite easy to get up close to them and see them in their natural habitat.
Although you can choose to go from island to island on your own, most people choose to visit them on a yacht tour. This is the ideal way to see as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. That being said, the longer a tour that you choose, the more you will be able to see.
The islands can be divided into a southern loop and a northern loop. Although all offer some amazing landscapes as well as fauna, there are some general differences. For example, the southern loop is considered to be better for wildlife. If you go for a cruise of at least 8 days, you’ll be able to visit islands in each.
An important part of your experience is the quality of the boat that you choose. This is going to be like your hotel for the duration of your tour so you want to pick the most comfortable that you can afford so that you will be sure to rest well while you aren’t on the islands. In addition to comfort of the cabins, the yachts can differ in the amenities that are offered. It’s a good idea to consider your priorities when making your choice.
Higher priced yachts will typically offer more amenities such as air conditioning, gourmet food, more comfortable lodgings, activities on board (depending on yacht size) and more. In addition to amenities, the quality of the guides on board are often better as well, with greater knowledge and better facility in speaking and understanding English.
Another consideration is the size of the yacht you want to travel in. Some people prefer boats that are smaller and more intimate. Others prefer larger vessels that offer more activities and more people to meet. An additional advantage of larger yachts is that they tend to be better for people who are prone to getting seasick.
If you are especially interested in doing some diving while you’re in the islands, you will want to look into yachts that specialize in that area. Permission to do so has been restricted to only a few yachts so you’ll need to find one that can provide this activity.
As you’re considering which tour to take, be sure that you know exactly what’s included in the price. The cost will usually not include flights from and back to the mainland. They will also often not include the entrance fee to the Galapagos national park.
source :http://articles.submityourarticle.com/Travel_&_Leisure
