Visiting the Galapagos beginning mid-January 2012 will require more RESEARCH:

     Which size ship

     Length of cruise

     Your Visitor Site Wish List, if you have one

WHICH SIZE SHIP?

There are basically three "sizes" of ships:

     Large - 90 to 100 passengers

     Mid-size - 32 to 48 passengers

     Yacht - 16 to 20 passengers

There are generally three major concerns associated with choosing ship size: 

• VISITS ASHORE: Contrary to general perception, the number of passengers aboard does not have a profound effect on the visits ashore.  Each Visitor Site limits the number of persons ashore at the same time, and a trained naturalist guide is required for each 16 persons. So groups are small.
• SEASICKNESS: The islands are an archipelago and waters are generally calm.  Ship movement is normally not an issue, regardless of the size of the ship.
• SHIPBOARD ENTERTAINMENT: Each night there is the day's de-briefing and the next day's briefing, and then perhaps some entertainment.  But it is almost always "early to bed" and the worry of being kept up by partying is nil - though there may well be competition for that lounge chair on deck for late night stargazing in the southern skies.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU BE IN THE ISLANDS?

Beginning January 2012 there will be more choices than ever before as to length of cruises - 4 nights, 5 nights, 6 nights, 7 night itineraries and by combining two cruises you can get 8 nights, 9 nights, 10 nights, 14 nights.

It takes a couple of days to settle in and it is indeed a Trip of a Lifetime so a minimum of 6 or 7 or more nights is recommended.

YOUR "VISITOR SITE WISH LIST":

Maybe you want to see all 3 Boobies (Red-footed, Blue-Footed, Nazca or Masked Booby) in one place, or see penguins (yes, penguins on the equator) or maybe you want to watch the Waved Albatross throw himself off a cliff to get airborne, and crash land when returning. Maybe you are into lava flows & tuffs, island history or flora.

If you have specific interests, you will need to find the itinerary that works for you.

ONE FINAL THOUGHT:

Beginning January 2012, cruise itineraries are DATE BASED and you will need to find the dates for your preferred itinerary before buying your air ticket - it's the only way to assure you get your best experience.

"Paint the picture before you buy the frame", so to speak.

NEXT WEEK - WEDNESDAY MAY 25 - CHAPTER TWO, GALAPAGOS 101:

      PLANNING - When To Go, Getting There, The Focus or Part of the Whole

 LADATCO's preferred ships & itineraries 2012

2011 Holiday space

Galapagos Evolving - Galapagos 101 re-written

The introduction & first newsletter in this series of four