If snorkeling with penguins and visiting one of the only places in the world to see giant tortoises sounds like a bit of you, the Galapagos in Ecuador might be one to add to the bucket list.
There’s nothing quite like experiencing wildlife in its natural habitat and this archipelago in South America has some of the most unique inhabitants you won’t be able to see anywhere else.
And what better way to explore this ethereal environment than aboard a luxury yacht?
I was fortunate enough to venture west to the islands made famous by evolutionist, Charles Darwin. It was exciting to think I was about to embark on a journey not too dissimilar to his expedition on the Beagle in 1835. Well, maybe a little different, as I would be aboard a luxury yacht called the La Pinta and not a 90ft old war vessel!
First stop was Santa Cruz island and up into the highlands to meet the giant tortoises. The creatures that give the Galapagos its name. They’re truly extraordinary to look at and can grow up to 417kg and live up to 200 years old. It’s mindblowing watching these slow, pre-historic creatures move in their own habitat.
After Santa Cruz it was time to set out on my exploration of the other northern islands aboard the glorious La Pinta yacht. It was a dream to get to experience the extraordinary and obscure natural beauty of the world in complete comfort. The La Pinta has beautiful rooms and while exploring the islands and wildlife is the true highlight, you’ll also have the opportunity to deep-sea snorkel, kayak, swim and paddle board or enjoy the on-board jacuzzi with a drink in hand.
Over five days, we ventured to the eden islet just off the coast of Santa Cruz, the Chinese hat islet, Bartolome island, Santiago island, Darwin Bay and Genovesa island.
The wildlife you see is just spectacular, the islands certainly vary strikingly but you will never be short of spotting playful sea lions who love to follow the pangas that carry you to shore. They adore swimming with tourists.
The Galapagos islands are undoubtedly a bird watchers dream, and due to the careful management of the local communities, the birds here have little fear of humans and usually stick around to pose for pictures! There are beautiful blue footed ‘boobys’ found on most of islands, as well as red and nazca ‘boobys’, prehistoric looking frigate birds, pelicans, penguins, hawks. Even if you don’t have a scuba diving licence, there is incredible marine life you can see by snorkeling. During my days on the La Pinta, there were daily opportunities to get in the water and swim with sea turtles, beautiful parrot fish and even small sharks.
One moment that will stay with me forever is snorkeling off the coast of Bartolome island where I followed penguins darting through the water hunting for fish.
I finished my Galapagos journey in the beautiful Finch Bay Hotel, a beautiful beach front hotel on Santa Cruz island. This hotel would be perfect for those wanting to explore the Galapagos but may prefer their evenings spent on dry land. While it has a beautiful beach to enjoy, Finch Bay also has a swimming pool, spa and a gym. You have the option of exploring some of the islands on their private yacht, the Sea Lion but as I had spent days at sea I decided to enjoy the beautiful facilities at the hotel for my two-night stay. I also highly recommend you take a short hike to the nearby Las Grietas, a beautiful swimming hole, popular with locals. It’s a deep, ultramarine blue pool filled with beautiful marine life. I highly recommend taking a morning to visit here.
As part of my Ecuadorian excursion with South American touring experts, Metropolitan Touring, I ventured north-west of the capital city of Quito to visit the Mashpi reserve, an area in the Choco rainforest region preserved for conservation and research.
Mashpi came from humble beginnings and has grown since its foundation in 2012 from protecting 700 hectares of the region to almost 3000 hectares and it aims to continue its efforts.
Tourists play a massive part in supporting the conservation of this diverse rainforest region. I stayed at the beautiful Mashpi lodge which offers beautiful luxury accommodation and has a fantastic on-site restaurant and spa - it’s hard to believe it’s situated in the middle of the rainforest.
One of the highlights of exploring Mashpi is the Dragonfly cable car that takes 40 minutes to cross 2km of rainforest. It’s a beautiful experience to get a bird’s eye view of the incredible trees, waterfalls and wildlife that create this amazing landscape.
There are also hiking trails you can take through the forest that vary depending on your ability. Guests of the lodge are given a dedicated Mashpi guide who have in-depth knowledge of the flora and fauna of the choco region. I ventured for a hike through the forest, and 2km upriver to get to the beautiful Glass Frog falls where you can swim and refresh for the hike back.
For visitors curious about learning more about Mashpi’s research and conservation efforts, there is an on-site lab with a dedicated biologist and researchers who are happy to share details of the work they’re undertaking. Since 2012, the biologists at Mashpi have discovered ten previously unknown species of animals and plants including species of orchids and magnolia, and more recently, the Mashpi Glass Frog - true to its name it’s completely see through. I managed to spot one on one of the most thrilling activities at Mashpi, the ‘night walk’ where you can find the creatures that prefer to roam at night - including snakes, scorpions and curious little creatures you won’t be able to see anywhere else in the world.
While staying in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, I was a guest of Casa Gangotena, a beautifully refurbished mansion with 31 rooms overlooking Plaza San Francisco. It’s the perfect place to explore the city and neighbours one of those most fantastic sights; the San Francisco church and monastery. Since it reopened post pandemic - tourists can head to the rooftop for views across the city.
The same goes for the nearby La Compania church, said to be the best example of Baroque architecture in the Americas. Tourists can also make their way to the rooftop and walk inside the dome to get a bird's eye view of the gold leaf altar below. I only discovered this thanks to my fantastic local guide from Metropolitan Touring, Raquel, who had endless knowledge about the city.
While in the historical centre in Quito, I recommend heading to ChezTiff to learn about Ecuadorian chocolate (try the dark chocolate passion fruit cream truffle) and also head to the San Francisco market to see Ms Rosa Correa for a traditional herbal energy cleanse - it really perks you up for the day.
Metropolitan Touring offers an 11-night Ecuador and Galapagos itinerary incorporating stays at Casa Gangotena, Mashpi Lodge. Finch Bay and a four-night cruise aboard the yacht La Pinta from £7,760 per person based on two sharing, including accommodation. www.metropolitan-touring.com
