Red or Blue Boobies or both? What do you prefer?

Now I have got your attention I am afraid what I am referring to is the birds known as Red or Blue Footed Boobies from the Galapagos as I think you should add this to your Bucket List as it is definitely on mine.

Blue Footed Booby

I recently attended a client event with Celebrity Cruises that was all about the Galapagos and now firmly have this as a place I want to visit.

Some quick facts about the Galapagos and Celebrity Cruises:

• there are 19 islands
• 35 ports of call offered
• 4 itineraries all 7 nights
• 2 ships
• 15 years sailing in the Galapagos
• located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador
• flight from Ecuador to Galapagos is 1 hour 45 minutes
• only 5 islands inhabited by humans

The islands were first discovered by Charles Darwin in 1835 whilst he was sailing on board HMS Beagle which was sailing round the world making shipping charts for the Navy and Merchant Navy. Darwin persuaded the Captain of the ship to stay for 11 months and this is where he discovered, “The Origin of The Species”, and later wrote his book of the same name.

As the Galapagos is a protected area the laws that govern tourism are very strict and Celebrity fully adheres to this by minimising their carbon footprint and by subscribing to eco-tourism such as replanting indigenous trees.

Celebrity Xpedition

Your experience begins by flying from the United Kingdom to Quito where you will then spend two days at the 5*  JW Marriott with transfers and breakfast included. On day two you enjoy a fully guided city tour. At two miles above sea level Quito is the highest official capital in the world and at this height there is a possibility of altitude sickness. In 1978 the city became the first ever historic centre along with Krakow in Poland the world renowned UNESCO World Heritage Centre. There are over 130 different monuments in the city and the cathedral was inspired by Notre Dam.

You will also be taken to the Equator line where you will receive a certificate before enjoying a typical Ecuadorian lunch. The night before you leave the hotel you and your main luggage will be checked in for the cruise by Celebrity staff between 6pm – 8pm and your luggage will be transported straight to the ship.

Around 11am the next day you will be transported to your aircraft for your VIP chartered flight to Baltra on an Airbus A320 where you will enjoy a 2 course meal and in flight entertainment. Upon arrival it is approximately 20 minutes transfer from the airport to the jetty where you will embark one of the ships zodiacs and be taken straight to the ship where a glass of champagne is waiting for you.

Marine Iguana

That afternoon you will head out on your first excursion. The zodiacs carry small groups of 12 passengers with a fully experienced guide. Each day you will visit two separate places and on offer will be 2-3 excursions with varying levels of difficulty depending on your ability.

Once on the islands you have to stay an arms length away from the wildlife and upon return to the ship your shoes are hosed down to make sure that no spores or seeds have been brought back and more importantly there will be no cross contamination on the next island.

Celebrity offer two ships – Celebrity Xpedition and newly built, Celebrity Flora – Xpedition hold 68 passengers and Flora holds 100. Xpedition covers two itineraries – Northern and Southern Loop whilst Flora offers Inner and Outer Loop. Choosing your itinerary will depend on what you want to see and I can help identify which itinerary is best for you.

Both ships have a  main dining room on board and there is also a BBQ open area where you can also have lunch and dinner (dinner needs to be reserved). There is also a bar area where the next days activities are discussed.

Galapagos Tortoise – National Emblem

All itineraries begin with 2 days in Quito , 7 night cruise and 1 night post cruise in Quito plus there is an option to add on a 6 night Machu Picchu tour.

The ships are fully inclusive and your price includes:

• return flights from the UK to Quito
• return VIP chartered flight to Baltra
• 2 nights pre cruise 5* JW Marriott Quito including breakfast
• 1 night post cruise 5* JW Marriott Quito including breakfast
• Fully Guided City Tour in Quito with lunch
• all transfers

And on the ship:

• all inclusive drinks
• all gratuities
• all dining
• excursions
• snorkelling equipment
• wifi

Prices start at just £5169 per person for a 10 night package sailing on Celebrity Xpedition on the 28/09/19 based on a Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom and from just £8269 per person for a 10 night package sailing on the newest addition to the fleet, Celebrity Flora, on the 01/12/19 based on a Sky Suite (all Suite ship).

Other dates are available and as I said earlier if there is some specific form of wildlife or fauna you wish to see I can let you know when the best times are to visit.

For more details email [email protected] or call 03333 002855.

Finally a few words of wisdom from Charles Darwin,”Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope.”

Wise words indeed.