At the completion of our 5-day cruise aboard the Legend, my mother and I had planned to spend two nights in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz to continue our Galapgaos experience and have one more day for an excursion. A lot of travelers will extend their time on land in the Galapagos for scuba diving excursions or to do a specific day trip that their cruise didn't cover. It's a great way to see the local culture, go out to eat, stock up on souvenirs, and move at your own pace.
Going out to local restaurants is one of my favorite things about traveling, so I reveled in the opportunity to go big - lobster! Please and thank you!
One final vacation dinner in Puerto Ayora! (Jenna Fedyschyn)
We were able to fit a lot into our one full free day on Santa Cruz! Along with our guide, we started the day with a kayaking tour of the lava channels near Puerto Ayora. This involved fighting against some pretty strong waves initially, so it's not for the faint of heart. I was struck by the stunning turquoise water and the lack of crowds with just a 15-minute kayak trip from town.
Kayaking from Puerto Ayora in the lava channels (Jenna Fedyschyn)
We also enjoyed a short walk / easy hike (1.5 miles) to Tortuga Bay - most cruises do not visit this site, so it makes a great addition to any free day in Santa Cruz. It was the closest thing to a white sand beach I was able to find in the Galapagos. As I've said before, don't go to the Galapagos if your main goal is to just relax on the beach and sip cocktails - you'll spend much less money doing that elsewhere - but for two hours in a free afternoon? Perfect.
White sand beach at Tortuga Bay (Jenna Fedyschyn)
The main thing to keep in mind if extending on land pre- or post-cruise is that it will require extra logistical coordination, time, and flexibility on your part. If just doing the cruise, all of your group airport transfers are included, and you're corralled from place to place by the ship operator - very little thought required on your part. Just follow orders! If extending on land, you'll likely have to remind the ship's crew that you're straying from the group logistics, take a taxi (or arrange a private transfer) from the airport into town, and take a bit more ownership of your schedule to make sure you're in the right place at the right time. If that doesn't deter you, extending on land in the Galapagos is a great way to complement your cruise experience!
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
1 day ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
1 day ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
2 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
Anne Petty
3 days ago
Follow up was effective any questions were answered in a timely manner
