Galapagos is truly AMAZING!!

Galapagos Islands | Dec 29 - Jan 8, 2025

We had a fabulous trip to the Galapagos Islands! Everything went smoothly (including transfers thanks to Alejandro) and it was an incredible adventure. We loved the Palma Polo Club where we stayed for two nights upon arrival in Ecuador and one the night before going back to the US. It was relaxing, the rooms were huge and lovely, the bed was the biggest I have ever slept in. My husband said the gym was the best he ever experienced in a hotel (it was open air and overlooked the heated pool) and they even managed to arrange a massage therapist to come to the hotel and treat us to in-room AMAZING massages. The restaurant was also very nice with delicious food.

Upon arrival in Baltra on December 30th we were greeted by our guide for the 8 day cruise, Andres. He was fantastic...passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated. He was so full of interesting information about every place we visited on the cruise I wish I could remember it all. The cruise on the Natural Paradise was awesome. All the other passengers on the tour were wonderful and we became fast friends while experiencing the trip of a lifetime. There were several excursions a day, and I loved the level of activity. We snorkeled, hiked and toured interesting and spectacularly beautiful places. The natural world is thriving in the Galapagos and this was such an inspiration. The wildlife is abundant and appears to be doing really well....they certainly manage the tourism to these islands which helps ensure a healthy ecosystem for the many animals that live there.
The entire crew of the Natural Paradise was skilled, kind and helpful. Their attention to detail including food preparation and presentation, safety concerns, condition of the boat and equipment was top notch. Shoutout to Jorge, Camilo,, Maria, Jose and all the crew . I had prepared for motion sickness (bring your Bonine just in case!) so I never had any issues. I enjoyed a cappuccino each morning as I watched the sunrise from the sundeck. One morning I was treated to a Bryde's whale sighting which was amazing. Our room was huge, the bed was comfortable, even the bathroom was large! Maria was magical...so efficient and fast...we never once saw her go into the room but it was always spotless. Using the hot tub after snorkel trips was so lovely and the afternoon we saw the big pod of dolphins before sunset was unforgettable. Every meal was delicious, with something for everyone. Omelettes made to order in the morning, fish dishes for lunch and dinner in addition to meat options, and lots of fresh fruit, veggies and salads.
We truly had an amazing journey to the Galapagos and wish we could have explored Ecuador for longer. So many more places to visit, including the Cloud Forest, the Amazon and the Andes. I hope we are able to return to this amazing and interesting country again soon. A country with beautiful sights, lovely people, fabulous food and spectacular wildlife and nature! Thanks to everyone who made this journey so special, including Alvaro who planned it for us!