GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Our Clients’ Reviews

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  Angela & Stuart Greig

  GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

  

  Written February 2010

  Exceptional wildlife, unique environments, life aboard the Cachalote and all shared with a great bunch of like-minded, enthusiastic travellers - a perfect Galapagos experience! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  • watching a sealion nursing her pup and being close enough to hear it suckling
  • snorkelling with a turtle and catching its eye as we surfaced side by side
  • seeing a pair of penguins dart past as I snorkelled
  • sadly witnessing the last struggles of a waterlogged juvenile albatross that had fledged too soon
  • watching the GPS on the bridge go through 00.00 degress as we crossed the equator aboard the Cachalote

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Christina has a great personality and she was always full of enthusiasm and eager to please.  Her briefings were well prepared and accurate but as her English skills were rather basic we didn't get the level of specialist knowledge we'd expected on shore. 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Cachalote is a small boat and the experience was more special and personal for that but there are a few disadvantages.  Even if you're not prone to sea-sickness, it's worth taking some tablets with you just in case. We were glad we did as the sea was unsually rough and you do feel the motion more in a smaller boat.  Space is very tight in the cabins. Most have two bunks with just enough floor room beside them  to stand and dress/undress etc. There are a couple of wide storage shelves and a few hooks and that's it. There may be some space under the bottom bunk if you're lucky. Bear this in mind when deciding what bag/s to take onboard with you (you can leave luggage safely at the hotel in Quito). The good news is the 'ensuite' facilities seem big in comparison and the showers are very efficient and hot and the loos flush easily and effectively. Eco-friendly liquid soap and shampoo is provided which you're requested to use.  Take something to protect your camera gear in the pangas - there's a lot of spray and it can get very wet if the panga catches a bad wave!

   
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  Karen Wilson

  GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

  

  Written January 2009

  What a special place!  A well planned trip around the Galapagos Islands.  Nice to take a different route mostly avoiding the masses of tourists. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Being so close to reptiles and birds that really were not bothered by our presence.  Swimming with sea lions and sea turtles.  Getting to visit islands that only a few boats go to.  Seeing tortoises in the wild.  Going over the equator twice in one night, I could go on and on ..... it was an amazing experience.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The Exodus group leader is only with you in Quito, on the yacht you have a naturalist guide.  Both guides were very helpful, informative and good at managing the group.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  In Quito you have a good amount of free time, so ensure you have looked up a few things to do (and checked opening days of museums).

  Storage space on the yacht in really limited, the cabins are small but different sizes, you may get the cabins with a wardrobe or you may just get a shelf & some hooks.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Not a cheap trip, but it is such an amazing experience, money well spent!

   
• 

  Graham Parker

  GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

  

  Written July 2008

  Great trip - great crew - unfortunately accomodation on board very very cramped 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  swimming with turtles

  What did you think of your group leader?

  very knowledgeable - good communicator

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  some people were very seasick - be careful when you book

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Exodus - please please please - when i tell you that i am vegetarian - its no use just telling the tour companies if you dont book the meals on the airline !!! - not impressed - called you to comment apparently you don't - why??? - If you ask people then I expect you to do it for me otherwise you should be explicit at time of booking - all the way to equador with not much too eat

   
• 

  Peter Robson

  Every Landing was different.

  

  Written November 2007

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Landing on Fernandina.

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  Very good indeed.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Take something to help you sleep on the plane.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  A very well organised and exciting trip.

   
• 

  Jill Digby

  Sunsets and sealions

  

  Written September 2007

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Snorkelling with sea lions and sea turtles; walking through colonies of blue footed boobies and albatross; sitting on deck at 6pm every evening watching the spectacular sunset.

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  The Galapagos trip is slghtly different to other Exodus trips I've been on, as there are 6 of you in Quito to start with then you are part of a larger group on the boat. So there isn't a tour guide in the traditional Exodus sense, but there is an official Galapagos guide with you on the boat who runs teh shore trips. Our guide was excellent, with fantastic knowledge of both the wildlife and the geology of the islands.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Take snorkelling gear & try to pick a time to go when the water is reasonably calm and warm.

  Don't take much luggage - the cabins are very small with no real storage space and the less you have the better- only take soft holdall type bags not hard suitcases. 

   There are some long sea journeys (mainly at night) and even if it's not too rough most people on our boat had some form of sea sickness so pack tablets for it.

  Take binoculars.

  Getting from the boat to the shore is by dinghy so you need to be reasonably agile - especially when it is a wet landing.

   

   

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  It was good being on a smaller boat- there are only 16 on the one Exodus use and that was ideal. The reason I chose the Exodus trip was that it was one of the few where you got to the islands in the west on a small boat. It is amazing (or was to me!) how far apart the islands are  and how different they are, even though they are all volcanic.

  There was lots more to the trip than just the wild life you hear about - the scenery is stunning too.

  It gets better as you get to the more outlying islands- the first trip is to the main island where the Darwin research centre is and that feels quiet commercialised and not what I was expecting- but when we got to the more outlying islands there were probably only 2 or 3 boats there. 

   
• 

  Ian Wilson

  I feel priviledged to have been there

  

  Written September 2007

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The intimacy that the animals afforded us. It brought tears to the eyes of most of us.

   

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  Antonio has a passion for the Galapagos that was apparant from the moment we met him and carried on through the whole trip.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Do it, you will not regret it.

  Small is best, any more than 16 would have been crowded.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  You have seen it on the television and heard David Attenbrough and many others talk about it, Well, it is better than any Tv programme you have seen.

  Go now before it is too late.

   Despite being on the Pacific for 8 days on a small boat (which by the way was very well appointed) the party gelled very well.

  I had fears of seasickness but the group had a trouble free trip. I had no motion sckness at all until I was back on dry land.

  Would I do it again? It could never be the same and the memories and photos I have will be with me till I die.