Cruising the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands is an archipelago of 13 large and numerous small volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean, west of South American on the Equator.  It is a UNESO World Heritage Site, a national park and a marine reserve.  It offers a unique opportunity to view unusual forms of wildlife.  The Galapagos Islands remain one of the few places in the world where naturalists can study loving survivals of species arrested at various evolutionary stages. 
There are many different approaches to cruising in the Galapagos Islands.  Ships range from 16 passenger yachts and catamarans to 110 passenger luxury expedition ships.  You can be as adventureous as you want.   Itineraries range from 4 days to 11 days of adventure.  Photographers view this as a “once in a lifetime” experience to capture nature at its finest.
Celebrity Cruise Lines has the 98 passenger/60 crew member  EXPEDITION cruise ship that sails itineraries ranging from 10 to 13 nights depending on the land portion that you choose.
Most cruisers fly into Quito, Ecuador for a city stay and then fly to Baltra where the cruises to the fabled waters of the Galapagos Islands begin. Several of the Celebrity itineraries finish with a land tour to the famous Machu Picchu in Peru.
The destination of the Galapagos Islands give cruisers the chance to “step back into history.”  This cluster of islands is so isolated that many of its creatures cannot be found anywhere else on earth.  From the giant tortoises that bear the Galapagos name, to the marine iguanas and “Darwin” finches, the Galapagos islands afford cruisers the chance to observe a living laboratory of adaptation.  They are known as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s  Theory of evolution. 
The smaller ships are able to travel to the smaller more remote islands.  Most all ships visit the Charles Darwin Station, Santa Cruz, the Giant Turtle Center at Ochoa Beach, San Cristobal Islandand the White Tipped Reef Shark Canal, Isabela. 
Many of the cruisers to this area of the world plan at least a year ahead, so if you want to experience this adventure, do call us at 800-829-9781 with plenty of time to plan ahead.   This is one part of the globe that requires our agents to know the client and their level of comfort in cruising.   E Mail us at axatravel@aol.com and we will provide you with details/ships/itineraries that meet your individual needs.  That is MOST important for this destination.  You will come home with wonderful memories of iguanas, the island’s famous finches, giant tortoises, the cormorant (which exsists no where else in the world). blue footed boobies and a part of the globe that many people never see in their lifetime.