Jan 26-27, 2023
Today we drive the 5 hours from Ecocamp to arrive to Punta Arenas by 11 AM. Here we must then get an antigen test before we can be approved to board the ship the next morning. We pass (hurray) and check in to our hotel, the Dreams, for the night. We receive a briefing this evening about what to expect for the flight and boarding of the vessel the next day, as well as an update on if the weather will cooperate with our plan. The visibility of the ground over King George Island must be to a certain height for the pilots to ensure a safe landing, otherwise, we cannot take off.
The next morning we get the all-clear and head to Punta Arenas airport. Here we board our flight, a DAP airlines charter plane, and fly down to King George Island, which is a muddy/gravel-covered base with the runway and a Chilean and Russian base on it. We are lucky in that vans are awaiting to drive us down to the shoreline. Here was take off our other boots, and get into our muck boots we will use for the duration of the cruise on the Sylvia Earle, grab lifevests, board zodiacs, and board our ship. We enjoy dinner and safety briefings the rest of the day while we sail towards the Antarctic Peninsula.
The staff at Adventure Life made planning my family's trip to the Galapagos Islands as easy as possible. They listened to what we were hoping to experience and made thoughtful suggestions about how to accomplish our vacation goals while meeting the needs of travelers ages 17-76! They patiently answered questions and follow up questions in the months leading up to the trip. They helped us trouble shoot and customize the trip in every way possible. The logistics involved in traveling from Boston to the Galapagos are innumerable. The Adventure Life staff helped us arrange every detail and the team they assembled in the Galapagos was tremendous. I have never done a trip this big before and after working with Adventure Life this time--would not hesitate one second in working with them again.
Jennifer Howard Schroeder
1 day ago
Kevin got right on our request and had us booked within the week
Linda Cummings
2 days ago
The info on the website was laid out very well. I did some comparisons with other tours and found Adventure Life met a lot of what I wanted in an Antarctica trip at the cheapest price. Requested a quote on Claudia contacted me right away. She answered a lot of questions the I had via email even though she offered to discuss via phone call. I’m more of an email person so appreciated how she accommodated that and answered all my questions. And when I was ready to book, she quickly got the ball rolling with getting our spots reserved on the trip my friend and I wanted. Thanks again, Claudia!
Hazel Araza
2 days ago
(1) great information on the website and throughout all the "materials." (2) Jane Packer is great: knowledgeable, responsive, takes a personal interest and tone, seems to care about the customer as a person not a sale.
Larry Bethune
2 days ago
great people doing a wonderful job to make our voyages happen.