The Galápagos are living proof of evolution. It’s like going back 300 million years…you’re seeing the origin of everything
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Yacht La Pinta
Newly renovated, this 48-passenger vessel has one of the top five guest-space ratios in the Galápagos. I could always find a quiet spot, with communal areas including a sundeck, library and bar/lounge area. The food was impressive - despite restrictions on what can be brought from the mainland - with buffet-style breakfast and lunch, and set menus for dinner featuring Ecuadorian and international options. Group dining on big tables encouraged mingling, with the average age of passengers in their 60s. The real emphasis was on the excursions rather than the ship, though, with two to three daily (gentle) walks plus snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding. BOOK IT: Rates start from $6,428 per person for six nights, based on double occupancy.
lapintagalapagoscruise.com. For more details, visit
metropolitan-touring.com.
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travelweekly.co.uk/cruise
grand voyAGE ask the
expert
f Get the season right. If clients want hot, tropical islands, suggest December to May, when it’s greener thanks to rain and humidity. If they want cooler climes, suggest the dry season from April/May to December.
f If clients get seasick, suggest a larger vessel and a central islands itinerary, where the waters are more protected from open ocean currents.
f Reassure clients they won’t be battling with other vessels; the park has a rotation system that means cruise lines can’t return to the same site in any 15-day cycle.
F Look at the eco-credentials of a ship. It’s a key focus for us and we’ve introduced a project that aims to offset the carbon footprint of guests by purchasing and protecting forests on the mainland.
Francisco Dousdebes, corporate responsibility and sustainability manager, Metropolitan Touring
SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz is the economic centre for the Galápagos, with most of the action focused around laid- back Puerto Ayora. We stopped here on the cruise to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, which protects giant tortoises and other species, but if clients want to linger longer, suggest a post-cruise add-on. Finch Bay makes for an excellent base with a peaceful beachfront location, a new spa and a stylish pool area. Rates start at $566 a night, based on two sharing with breakfast.
finchbayhotel.com
February 2020 21
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