After motoring all night to reach Santa Cruz, we disembark early. The town of Puerto Ayora is alive with movement and sound. After a few days without seeing much human development, Puerto Ayora is a whole different ballgame. Vicky takes us to a tortoise reserve in the highlands, where we see 7 different giant tortoises. They don't seem happy to see us and hide their heads in their shells when we come near. We also explore the lava tubes nearby and go to see Los Gemelos, two identical craters that formed at the same time on either side of the road. It reminds me of the wonders of the natural world, a common occurrence when in the Galapagos! After lunch in Puerto Ayora, we head out to the Charles Darwin Research Station. It is HOT HOT HOT in Puerto Ayora and I should have brought a hat or more sunscreen for the 15 minute walk from town to the research station. At the station, we see Lonesome George and many other tortoises. Vicky tells us the difference between the species and how each species is from a different island. We also see some of the largest iguanas ever! After the afternoon's activities, we are free to explore on our own. We do some shopping and meet the rest of the group downtown later for dinner and drinks right on the water.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.