My husband Lance and I had the opportunity to travel around the Galapagos Islands on Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Endeavor II earlier this year and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Every detail was handled perfectly by Lindblad's staff, from our arrival at the airport in Miami for our connecting flight to Guayaquil.
We arrived late into Guayaquil and checked into the Hilton Colon for the night. There was an early wake up call the next morning for our flight to the Galapagos Islands. Lindblad Expeditions took great care of us during travel - they had a representative at the Miami airport, and others in Guayaquil and at the hotel. Everyone was helpful and friendly.
When we arrived at San Cristobal, we were taken to the dock for our embarkation by zodiac. The Endeavor II is an amazing ship. Cabins were very comfortable and quiet. We enjoyed our cabin on the Bridge Deck, which had easy to access to the library (stocked with books), the gift shop, spa and bridge.
Some of my notes on the Endeavor II:
- There's coffee, tea and juice available anytime you want in the lounges.
- They provide all of the snorkeling gear, so no need to pack your own, and it's of great quality.
- The food and beverage program on this trip was way better than I expected an included a great mix of Ecuadorian food and more classic dishes. They do seafood dishes very well.
- The service was at a high level. Our room was tended to three times each day, and our stewardess made sure we had cold water in our pitcher and as many towels as we needed. We felt very taken care of!
- The ship has no elevator, so this trip is probably not well-suited for people who have difficulty with stairs.
The expedition staff and naturalists kept everything running smoothly for us. Naturalists were very knowledgeable and engaging, and we had interesting talks both in the field and on board. The underwater videos we watched in the evenings were great. Every naturalist was passionate about the islands and all brought their special expertise to bear on the expedition. We really loved having a photo instructor on board, who took the time to help everyone with their photos.
But Galapagos is all about the wildlife. We saw all the major endemic species, both on land and water. It was amazing to be in a place where animals are not afraid of humans, and allow you to get close to them. It's a magical experience. Our ship visited San Cristobal, Espanola, Floreana, Santa Cruz, Bartolome and Genovesa. Our expedition offered opportunities to hike, snorkel, kayak, paddle board or simply take zodiac rides to view the wildlife, so there was something for everyone. It was an active trip, with many early morning wake up calls and the opportunity to participate in multiple activities each day.
Here is a brief slide show of some our favorite photos from our expedition:
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