GALAPAGOS: IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS

17 days from GBP3,499 to GBP3,979 including flights+ Galapagos taxes US$110 paid locally
Tripcode: TPG

Countries Visited: Ecuador

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 8 reviews.

Keith Shaw

GALAPAGOS: IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS

Written November 2011
This trip gets to the real heart of the Galapagos and is awesome if you enjoy wildlife (mammals reptiles and birds), diverse environment, snorkelling and trekking.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Snorkelling off kicker rock, swimming with sealions and turtles, seeing all the tortoises, penguins, rays, iguanas close up and hammerhead sharks were superb but I think the frigate birds males dispalying on their nests took the prime position. The trek was totally different and felt very pioneering, especially sleeping next to a live volcano!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader Pablo was superb from all aspects. He was knowledgeable and passionate about his country, able to communicate effectively but not overload us. Pablo ensured we got the most out of our trip and really cared about us.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip is not for the fainthearted. It is great value for money as there are many early starts, you need to be flexible and accept that if you are in the only hotel on a small island it will not be 5* accommodation but 5* experience and views. The food was very healthy withh locally sourced seafood, steak and chicken along with loads of fruit. There are long and fast speedboat trips between islands, up to 3hrs but you get used to them as there is no other option because there are no airports on some islands. If you go before December you really need a full wetsuit and they are pretty cheap from Osprey as hiring did not seem to be simple. Keep some space for Inca type gifts from the markets.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The only downside was the Iberia Airlines which were not too bad on the way out with a direct flight from Madrid although the headphones did not work on a lot of peoples sets and the system kept breaking down. On the way back the flight was changed to an indirect flight via Guayaquil which is the opposite direction, we then had to get off the aircraft for an hour, the plane was then delayed for an hour. On the final leg from Madrid to Heathrow there was no seating plan (even though our tickets said we had seats) and we had to get on early to get our seats (although we only found that out as we boarded), the only food and drink available one had to pay for. Do not fly Iberia they have been taken over by BA.
FRANCES RITCHIE

GALAPAGOS: IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS

Written March 2011
If you CAN do this trip.....DO IT! It was everything it promised to be....and more!There was a lot of time for snorkelling.....MOST enjoyable! March is a wonderful month to go if you enjoy the sun....although it is the rainy season we had very little rain and PLENTY of sun! A very FULL-ON holiday....NOT a chill-out one....so, if you want to put your feet up, don't chose this trip!.....but, why would you want to put your feet up when there is SO much to see and experience?!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There was such a lovely feeling of "basic" around! The hotels....on the Islands...were wonderfully rustic with no pretention BUT excellent care was offered everywhere!
I, for one, lost track of what day it was....how FABULOUS! Someone else was looking after my food requirements (and they did that beautifully!) my well-being, my travel arrangements, my safety etc etc....all I needed to do was ENJOY MYSELF!
The trip was EXCELLENTLY put together with daily variation....and HEAPS of snorkelling in the most amazing waters! Some calm....some not so calm but there was always the knowledge that our Group Leader was ever-vigilant with regard to our safety!
What did you think of your group leader?
FABIAN was, in my opinion THE BEST! He was professional, knowlegeable, well informed, humerous, connected with the group very quickly and we could not have been in safer hands! This last point is particularly relevant as he had to deal with our group having to be evacuated to higher ground as a result of the Tsunami in Japan! This he did in a calm and organised manner.......an event that was NOT in our/his Trip Notes!
WELL DONE Exodus for employing THIS Leader!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
ENJOY! It is all over way too quickly!
On a more serious note I would say that this IS a FULL-ON 100 mile an hour holiday...so, don't chose it if you want to put your feet up or sit for a few hours in the sun/shade reading etc!
Take the equipment as the guidelines outlined.....I was lacking in the suitable SANDAL department!
The trip, as advertised in Exodus brochure, UNDER-SELLS the holiday....it could take a brochure all of it's own and still not allow one to conjure up the gloriousness of THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS...Exodus style!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think I have said it all above! It was EVERYTHING it promised to be....and some!
We were cared for beautifully on some of the most exquisite Islands one can (usually) only dream of!
At times I pinched myself to remind me that it was ME who was experiencing ALL this nature and beauty
NOT David Attenbourgh!
Elizabeth Newman

GALAPAGOS: IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS

Written November 2010
This was a journey back to a time when animals were not afraid of man, to a time when Darwin literally pushed a Galapagos hawk off the end of a branch with his gun. Being teased underwater by an inquisitive sea lion isn't something you forget in a hurry.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Snorkelling with turtles and marine iguanas. Seeing manta rays leaping out of the water. Walking through the weird red vegetation on South Plaza Island.
What did you think of your group leader?
Fabian was the best group leader I have ever had on any holiday. It would be hard to find something he didn't know how to do - he could operate any camera you gave him, identify all the wildlife, give a political background to Ecuador and draw out the quietest members of the group with his wicked sense of humour.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take lots and lots of memory cards for your camera, don't fly with Iberia if you can help it, and make sure you have plenty of water to drink at night when you're in Quito - the altitude means that you tend to sleep with your mouth open!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I have never travelled with such a friendly and like-minded group. Exodus attracts all the right kind of people!
Andrea Redgers

GALAPAGOS: IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS

Written November 2010
This is a brilliant trip. The wildlife was amazing the snorkelling was stunning. Fabian the group leader was everything we could have wished for. We had looked forward to this trip for ages and it more than lived up to our high expectations. The group was diverse and probably the very best of many exodus groups we have travelled with.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Swimming with sharks, penguins, iguanas, turtles and rainbow coloured fish. Seeing all the unique creatures we had seen on TV and read about. At times it really did feel as if we were walking in Darwins footsteps. The landscape still feels so new and raw in many places and we saw such a wide range of habitats and micro climates over the two weeks on the islands.
What did you think of your group leader?
Fabian was an exceptionally good group leader he always went the extra mile to make sure everyone in the group got the most from their holiday.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are thinking about this trip stop thinking and do it. Wet suits are quite easy to hire but if you have done little or no snorkelling get your own mask and snorkel and track down you local club for a couple of introductory sessions so you don't miss any of the stunning underwater life. In October we were glad of our shortie wet suits because we wanted to stay in the water for as long as possible.
Melvyn Ollerhead

GALAPAGOS: IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS

Written August 2010
Torttastic experience.... If you like tortoises this is for you !
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Sunset at the campsite on the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano, miles away from the nearest habitation was an amazing sight, as was the cloudless night sky brimming with umpteen stars and galaxies.
Watching surgeon fish while snorkelling and a 100kg sea lion appears between your legs, flips over onto its back and stares at you 5 cm from your mask, blows bubbles in your face and swims off fast, to be followed by another an another...awesome.
Swimming above about 40 six foot sharks seems scarey until you come across a manta ray the size of a small car !
What did you think of your group leader?
Fabien was a well educated, amusing and highly informed Ecuadorian who spoke very good English and above all kept you interested every minute of every day. They don't come any better.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't even think twice, just do it. You won't regret it.
Worth taking good comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking over many different surfaces. Consider taking your own snorkel, mask, flippers and shorty wetsuit to save time hiring.
Staying in hostels and hotels is much better than permanently being on a cruise boat, especially in the evenings.
Take plenty of camera memory cards. We took over 2000 pictures between 2 of us.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
It is true what they say about the wildlife not feeling threatened by humans. Birds, iguanas, giant torts just look at you as though you are a stranger and expect you to walk round them !
Emily Woodeson

GALAPAGOS: IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS

Written August 2009
I was excited about this trip before I went, but never really imagined that it would live up to my extremely high expectations, however I needn't have been concerned - it was simply fantastic! Everything that I had hoped for and an awful lot more.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It is extremely hard to identify just one highlight. Was it walking on beaches literally littered with sea-lions? Or seeing penguins? Or swimming with turtles/sea-lions/rays? Seeing blue footed boobies or frigate birds displaying? Or maybe walking out of the cloud to see the most incredible views from the crater rim on the Sierra Negra volcano?
All aspects of the trip were brilliant. Loved it.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader, Fabien, was everything you could possibly want in a group leader. He was organised, knowledgable, enthusiastic and extremely funny. He wanted to make sure that everyone had the best possible experience and he worked really hard to make that happen.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The hiking section of the trip is quite challenging and I would really recommend taking poles with you. In July/August the weather in the highlands is not what you might expect as you are walking mostly in cloud. This makes the ground muddy and slippery.
Make sure that you have a good quality camera - whilst you get close to the animals a decent zoom is still really useful to be able to get some great shots. I took an underwater casing for my camera rather than a cheaper underwater camera - it was very much worth it.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you can get on this trip do. It was amazing.
Lucy Valerio

GALAPAGOS: IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS

Written March 2009
The most astonishing trip - I had the time of my life. Every day was a new adventure with so many different sights, scenery and sounds. The islands are truly bewitching and the itenerary meant that we saw so much of each island visited with a great mixture of trekking and snorkelling. There was never a dull moment only lots of WOW moments. A unique experience.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
So many to choose from but it would have to be swimming with the young sealions at los lobos.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent - catered to everyone's needs in the group and had a great sense of humour.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take your own snorkelling gear and an underwater camera and for photographers a polarised filter would be very useful.