Our planned island itinerary & our ship

At GetAway Travel we are very excited about our planned once-in-a-lifetime vacation to the Galápagos Islands  with a stop in Quito. There is no other place on earth where ecosystems on land and at sea are preserved like time has stopped. Our adventure will be carefully curated and directed by naturalists and certified guides to guarantee an amazing experience. The archipelago is quite spread out so a cruise allows for maximum time on the islands as we travel  aboard the fabulous Celebrity Flora.

Each island, as Charles Darwin noted, has flora and fauna adapted to the specific island and even to specific parts of an island. Each day there are excursions planned, and described in detail so you can pick your level of activity, with lunch and dinner on the ship. You will be made aware of what you can expect to see in terms of wildlife, too — from the iconic tortoises, to the playful sea lions to magnificent sea and land birds that don’t nest or live anywhere else in the world!

In addition to island excursions, you can also enjoy time on the beach as well as hiking, snorkeling and diving.

 

Our proposed island itinerary

 

 Here’s a snapshot description of the islands we are scheduled to visit and what you can expect to experience. Each trip to and from an island is a visual experience involving spectacular cliff scenery, exotic bird sightings, surgeonfish and sharks visible in the clear waters as well as sea lions, fur seals, tortoises, turtles and lizards.

 

Santa Cruz — This is the population center of the islands and home to the National Park Service tortoise breeding center as well as the Charles Darwin Research Center. The center is in Puerto Ayora and an exhibition hall showcases the 60 plus years of scientific research of the Galápagos. The Van Straelen Interpretation Center has exhibits on marine ecosystems and some interesting material on the vulnerability of sharks and the study of Galápagos sharks.

Dragon Hill is named after its population of iguanas.

And, of course, plenty of tortoise sightings!

Just north of Santa Cruz is Daphne Major and Daphne Minor. Visitors are only allowed on Daphne Major, a volcanic cone famous for the scientific study done by Peter and Rosemary Grant on the finch populations on the islands.

A volcanic cone is a heap of ash piled up and rising out of the water. Time has pounded the ash into solid ground. A crater at Daphne Major is the breeding ground for the blue-footed boobies. There is a large population there, but the birds are on other islands, too. They are quite curious and on occasion drop in on visitors’ boats.

Isabella Island — The largest of the Galápagos Islands, it is the product of five volcanoes erupting together. A lava flow raised up part of the island from the sea so visitors can walk through what used to be an underwater reef. Here you can see flamingos, marine iguanas and sting rays in the shallow pools. There will also be sea turtles, some Galápagos penguins.

The island is shaped like a seahorse because of the way the active volcanoes joined to form the land mass. The joined lands have separate subspecies of tortoises because they had different environments before they were joined.

This island has more types of giant tortoises than the other islands combined. The Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabella is the second largest active volcano in the world.

Espanola — the oldest of the Galápagos Islands, it is home to a large colony of sea lions. The beautiful white sands of the beach at Gardner Bay are a great place to relax and swim, and also observe the sea lions. It is also a nesting site for sea turtles and you can observe at least three species of Darwin’s finches and the Española mockingbirds.

Punta Suarez is home to almost the entire world’s population of the Waved Albatross. Our visit is planned for January and colony life then should be in full swing with parents taking care of their babies. A short hike along the cliffside takes you to a lava fissure that shoots up a huge geyser of water.

Floreana — It was the first capital of the Galápagos and where Darwin met with the islands’ governor. It is a nesting site of the sea turtle and you can see flamingoes, stilts and white-cheeked pintail ducks.

In the 1600s, whalers, pirates and other adventurers set up a wooden barrel at Post Office Bay. Seaman would leave letters with addresses on them and their fellow travelers would take and deliver the letters.

Ferdinandina Island — geologically, Ferdinandina is the youngest of the islands. It is a barren, pristine land mass. But the surrounding nutrient-rich waters attracts manta rays, hammerheads, whales, sharks and dolphins. It has the largest population of marine iguanas. It is a nesting site for the flightless cormorants.

Celebrity Flora, our home away from home

 The largest and most luxurious of the island cruise ships, every stateroom is a suite. Take advantage of premium linens, a personal suite attendant and locally sourced chocolates and bath products.

One of the most eco-friendly ships sailing today, its interior design is done with sustainable, natural materials.

Common areas are almost all windows to allow maximum access to the wonderful scenery. An observatory with library is dedicated to materials about the islands.

There are programs and lectures by naturalists and Galápagos National Park guides about the area.

Menus are crafted by Michelin-starred chefs sourcing fresh local ingredients and seafood. There are two restaurants, one is upscale (business causal) and the other is casual dining. There is also a “dining under the stars” option.

Oh and Complimentary laundry service twice per cruise!

The ship supplies complimentary snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, binoculars and walking sticks.

GetAway Travel is offering you a chance to join us for a vacation of the lifetime! Contact us at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel