ADVERTISING FEATURE
An adventure to Galápagos with HX, through an agent’s eyes
Liza Royce from The Personal Travel Agents shares how an HX fam trip changed the way she saw the Ecuadorian archipelago
Did the Galápagos Islands exceed your expectations? Absolutely, although I was initially apprehensive about the distance and my fitness. With HX, you have two nights in Quito, which helped with recovering from jet lag before the cruise. The activities catered for all fitness levels; I’m in my mid-50s and found them comfortable. There were choices for different abilities, and I coped well with the most challenging ones.
What wildlife experiences did you have? Within the first hour of our first rib boat ride we saw manta rays, blue-footed boobies, sea lions and iguanas. We thought we had peaked too early, but the days just got better as we spotted giant tortoises, albatrosses, frigate birds, pelicans and finches. We swam with sea
lions, turtles, rays and sharks. We even spotted a whale breaching while we were relaxing in the hot tub!
What activities did you do?
Every night there was an expedition briefing for the next day’s activities, which
are all included. We snorkelled almost daily and enjoyed walks around the islands. We cycled, kayaked, went stand-up paddleboarding and visited sanctuaries and local farms. There were also daily talks from the Expedition Team and we took part in Citizen Science projects.
What did you think of the ship? It was ideal. It wasn’t too big and all the cabins were well furnished and comfortable. The all-inclusive, locally inspired food included breakfasts, buffet lunches and à la carte dinners. Free snacks in the lounges encouraged everyone to mix and share experiences. One evening we watched the sun set with barbecue nibbles and cocktails.
Liza (fourth from right) and the other agents on a hike with Alexis (front) from the HX Expedition Team
How did the Expedition Team enhance your trip? The trip wouldn’t have been the same without them. They were so informative and passionate. They made sure everyone had an experience above their expectations while ensuring the islands and wildlife were respected.
Had you travelled with HX before? I haven’t travelled with HX before, but I’d always wanted to. I’d travel with them again in a heartbeat. They make sure everyone gets the most out of their trip, offering bespoke adventures with high-quality ships, staff, food and drinks. I can’t recommend them highly enough!
SELL THREE, SAIL FREE
HX is celebrating its 130th anniversary by giving away 130 adventures. All you need to do is make three bookings between July 1 and October 31 and you can sail for free with a guest on an HX expedition. To register your bookings and claim your expedition prize, scan the QR code.
For more information, visit
agentportal.travelhx.com or call 020 3811 6016
PICTURES: Andres Ballesteros, Andres Carrion, Andres Mesias, Metropolitan Touring
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