The Galápagos Islands with HX - Nature's Greatest Showcase

Everyone’s heard of the Galápagos Islands, and this no doubt conjures visions of David Attenborough, giant tortoises, iguanas and blue-footed birds, but where on earth are they? This cluster of volcanic islands lie practically on the Equator line just off Ecuador, at the top west of South America. The archipelago’s varied terrain features a range of habitats and as a result the bird and animal species have evolved over time into sub-species to adapt to their natural conditions. As a result, some species living here cannot be found anywhere else on the planet, and the Galápagos islands truly are a wildlife enthusiast’s ultimate destination.

My journey involved a KLM flight from Heathrow to Quito (via Amsterdam) and then a further flight to Baltra Island, where the majority of Galápagos adventures begin. Do make sure your connection time in Amsterdam is sufficient, my 60-minute connection was not quite enough – I made it, by running between the 2 terminals, but my luggage did not and it had to be delivered the next day in Quito!

My itinerary began with a 2-night stopover in Quito and the tour of the city was very enjoyable. This UNESCO World Heritage site gives a true South American feel from the offset, and included a trip to the Equator Line, a lunch surrounded by beautiful scenery and a trip to a local chocolate factory. The altitude is quite high in Quito, at 2820m, so you can feel some breathlessness, but it was nothing major, just something to be aware of.

The next day an early start gets you on your way to the Baltra Island flight for the Galápagos islands. Upon arrival at Baltra’s small airport, signs of wildlife appear immediately with land iguanas literally walking around the airport entrance! Once you have identified your luggage you are whisked off by a small coach to the water’s edge where you join the small inflatable boats (pangas) to transport you to your ship. Getting on and off these boats involves a little training and assistance from the crew, but it is not hard.

The ship I was staying on was the HX Expeditions’ Santa Cruz II which has 50 cabins with a maximum of 90 guests, although on my trip there were just 45 guests, so it had a very private feel to it. Although small in size, the ship features 2 hot tubs at the rear, a science corner and library with a tea and coffee machine for use at any time, a small fitness room, a restaurant and outdoor and indoor observation decks. It is a good-sized vessel for cruising between the islands and going off the beaten track, and it comes fully equipped with a full range of exploration kit, including panga boats, kayaks, snorkelling equipment and wet suits, stand up paddle boards and even a glass bottom boat.

I was going to be on here for 6 nights and the cabin I had was of a good size - big double bed, ample wardrobe space, a safe and bathroom with a shower. Initially a strange feature of the cabins is that there are no keys, you can lock them from the inside of course, but when you leave it is open - you soon got used to that though and security is never an issue.

Food on the ship was of an exceptional standard with a great menu choice, all freshly prepared by the chefs. You order your evening meal in advance each day. Breakfast and lunch are both buffet style but again a high standard and all dietary requirements are catered for. Drinks are all included as well as gratuities.

Every evening there is a meeting to review the day and give an insight into what is happening on the next. You select your activities, the main one being a guided walk of the next island, and the afternoon being a water-based activity should you wish. I enjoyed a kayak experience and found myself surrounded by turtles and seals, my eyes darting everywhere as more and more creatures bobbed up beside me! Luckily no seals leapt on the kayak (unlike on the inflatable boat!) as they are so inquisitive. I found the guides to be very personable, interesting and informative and I attended all the evening lectures. When you disembark onto the islands sometimes it’s a dry landing and sometimes wet, so choose your footwear wisely depending on the day. Each island is totally different from the rest, sometimes sandy terrain, another time boulders, so I’d highly recommend some good walking footwear - this trip is not suitable for any guests with impaired mobility.

The wildlife walks were generally an early start by panga over to the islands. Numbers and time on the islands are limited to keep them unspoilt and not disturb the wildlife too much. It is essential you stick with the guide and not stray from the paths – the general rule is to stay 6ft away from the animals and birds, but sometimes they came towards you, and young seals just want to play, so you had to back off. There are practically no predators on the islands, so the animals have no fear and seem unbothered by you being there. This destination is great for photography enthusiasts and the guides give an interesting narration at all times, so the whole trip is really informative.

HX Expeditions include everything from daily excursions and activities to meals, gratuities and drinks, and they have been travelling to the Galápagos since 1969 so they really know their stuff. Their mission is to be the world's most sustainable expedition travel company, so any fears that we may have had about negatively impacting this precious destination are quickly dispelled – their priority was to protect the natural environment at all times.

Highlights for me were the blue-footed boobies, the giant tortoises, frigate birds (visions of Jurassic Park!) and the nascar boobies, very pretty faced birds with grey feet, unlike the blue feet of their cousins. Every day was an exciting adventure as you set off like an intrepid explorer! This was exactly what I dreamed it would be - a real adventure of a lifetime experience, and expertly organised by HX Expeditions.

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You can find Mark at Bury St Edmunds

If you would like to plan a trip to the Galápagos Islands or find out more about HX Expeditions, please contact your local branch.

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