The Galapagos experience has been characterized by being exclusive and isolated. And today, more than ever, other people are looking for remote destinations that keep them away from the big crowds due to the pandemic. When combined with smart year-round weather, short flight distances from the United States, small time zone variations, and close encounters with wildlife, the combination puts the Galapagos Islands on the most sensible list for many travelers.
The Galapagos Islands, an archipelago located on the equator about six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador, are considered South America’s safari destination.
The highlight comes with snorkeling with sea lions, marine iguanas, various rays and giant sea turtles. On land, travelers will have the possibility to get up close and private with the giant tortoises, many of which are more than a hundred years old. For birdwatchers, the Galapagos Islands are, in fact, the mecca of bird watching, with blue legs sticking out of their namesake feet, albatrosses doing their mating dance with a snap of beaks and a plethora of finches, penguins and hawks.
Charles Darwin noted these islands because they were the source of his studies on the theory of evolution. In 1835 he opened a world of exploration and studies. Today, those islands are home to marine biologists and other scholars who examine the plethora of life and topography of volcanic lava flows and giant lava tubes that still exist today.
There are other tactics for exploring those islands, adding small yachts that travel from island to island at night (when travelers sleep) so that passengers wake up every day in a new destination. One such company is Quasar, which owns an expedition yacht. called Evolution which has a maximum of 32 passengers in 16 cabins.
Quasar Expeditions was founded in March 1986 by an Ecuadorian couple, Dolores Ganwere de Diez and their husband, Eduardo. “We had explored most of Ecuador during the time we got married, and Galapagos had something special,” says Diez. it is the ideal destination for wildlife lovers. Combine glorious opportunities at sea (kayaking, snorkeling and diving) with hikes that take you within inches of all the wildlife that inhabits the islands. In Galapagos, wildlife is not afraid of humans.
“When we founded Quasar, our purpose was to show visitors the same Galapagos I first met in 1969,” he explains. “Nearly 40 years later, we’re proud to do just that. “
When looking for the company to use in Galapagos, some travelers concentrate on the appearance of the ship and the amenities offered on board. Quasar believes it’s the exploration experience that counts first. The boat, food and accommodation come in the place of the moment. “For example, on small yachts like ours, when you have staterooms with balconies, you usually eliminate the option of walking outdoors around the perimeter of the ship,” says Diez. “This is a must-have feature of Quasar Yates as it has daily wildlife displays throughout the ship, adding dolphins swimming at the front of the yacht, other crazy people diving into the water in a binge, sharks swimming behind the yacht. So when we have visitors who communicate with us and focus on the comfort of their cabin and the length of the balcony, we want to change their mindset to that of exploration and why they deserve to prefer a yacht where they can travel their entire perimeter. “
“For Quasar, it’s actually vital to tell our consumers when they need to pre-order an eBook and let them know exactly why we do things the way we do,” says Diez. This would possibly mean turning away some consumers because it’s not a smart choice. . It is critical to set the right expectations.
Quasar, like most cruise lines, has driven covid by following strict protocols, conducting consistent testing, and educating staff. Hygiene and prevention have become a top sensible priority. Diez says: “We have done 56 cruises since March 2021 and only two of them had to be shortened as some passengers tested positive mid-cruise. We have to adapt and perceive that this virus is going to be with us in the future, so the maximum productive solution is to manage it in a general way.
So what can travelers expect in Galapagos?
On Daphne Minor Island, you can see colonies of blue-footed tropical birds, nazca, frigatebirds, swamp owls, and red-billed tropical birds.
Galapagos Iguanas
On Isabela Island, flightless cormorants inhabit the shore. And snorkeling here gives the chance to swim with sea lions, turtles and manta rays and eagles. Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago and represents part of the total Galapagos land mass. Giant land iguanas and tortoises can also be discovered here.
Galapagos penguins
In Punta Espinoza it is imaginable to approach the Galapagos penguins. There are also red and turquoise blue zayapa crabs scattered on the lava shore, while blue and lava herons feed on mangrove roots. Here there is also a colony of marine iguanas that can also be observed underwater through snorkeling. There is also the possibility to see dolphins and whales.
Pinnacle rock
Bartholomew Island, known as Pinnacle Rock, which is a spearhead obelisk, has a height of 2000 feet that leads to a peak from where travelers will have a view of Santiago Island and Sullivan Bay.
Baby animals, this sea lion, can be observed throughout the Galapagos Islands.
Santa Cruz is the largest island of the moment in the Galapagos and a center for the archipelago. In the northern domain there is a vital nesting site for sea turtles. The island also has a lagoon full of flamingos (plus a variety of other birds, including: wonderful blue herons, non-unusual stilts, browns, and white-cheeked reddish ducks). Divers could possibly see sea turtles and sea lions, schools of naked salemas and Galapagos sharks. In the southern component of Santa Cruz are the headquarters of the Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station, as well as the highlands. The Wild turtle reserve in the Highlands is the center of attention for many travelers, as it is the best position to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat.