Galapagos snorkeling logistics...
Do you wear your bathing suit under your clothes (during the day) and then just strip down to your bathing suit, to get into the wet suit, when you are at the beach?
Or, do you go back to the Isabel II to change out of your clothes and into your wet suit?
HML
Or, do you go back to the Isabel II to change out of your clothes and into your wet suit?
HML
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Bump. I am curious as well. A little help here folks, please.
If I can convince my wife to go, I want to get up close and personal- mask or U/W camera lens to whiskered-snout- with a sea lion or two!
And a note on the finches, when we went in March I believe it was, we hardly saw any finches, but then they are brown sparrow like and only of interest because of their beak varieties and because of wonderful Charles Darwin, one of my heroes.
I so want to do this tour again, it's wonderful
Thank you very much for the info. If there is a possibility of being in my swim suit all day I guess I will have to buy a new one based on comfort and not necessarily "fashion!"
I am getting quite excited for this trip. The snorkeling opportunities were a large part of our decision to choose this Tauck itinerary. Being able to stay at the Sanctuary Lodge, at Machu Picchu, was also a big part of our decision.
I plan to do some research on the animals/birds, of the Galápagos Islands, before we leave home.
It would be a thrill to see some giant tortoises while we are snorkelling. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Thank you again!
HML
It is so wonderful to stand next to a bird for it to just stay there and ignore you, especially when it has bright blue feet!
Also worth researching is about the early settlers, such as Margaret Witmer and 'the Baroness' yes mysterious and fascinating, I've read several books about them all.
Peru, sadly we will not be visiting Peru, my husband though very fit, his body does not cope with high altitude. Please post a review so I can enjoy it that way instead. Have a great time.
I will scope out some reading material about Margaret Witmer.
It's unfortunate that your husband has troubles with high altitude - Can you travel with another companion?
Actually, the altitude is my biggest concern because I don't know if it will aggravate my migraine headaches.
But, I was alright while we were gorilla trekking in Rwanda... And, I plan to use some preventative meds.
I would really like to see the Antartica but my husband doesn't enjoy the cold. Go figure, because he grew up in an area that has 35 below temps in the winter...
British, thank you again for sharing your knowledge/suggestions. I do appreciate it.
HML
As far as reading material, we got a wonderful book about the animals/birds and each island. Unfortunately, my neighbor, who is on this very trip as I write, has my book, so I am not sure of the name. Perhaps, an Amazon search will turn up a suitable book. What we did not have was a book of the many, many fish we saw. However, the Isabela II has an excellent library, and you can find info about the fish you have seen after a snorkeling adventure. BTW, a tortoise is a land animal and a sea turtle is a water one. So, you will be swimming with turtles and visiting the huge tortoises on Santa Cruz Island.
As far as Peru is concerned...staying at the Sanctuary Lodge was also a huge factor for us. It did not disappoint! We entered the ruins as soon as the gates opened up in the morning and got some phenomenal shots as the mist and fog rolled in and out. We explored on our own, went back for breakfast, returned again and caught the last possible ride down to Agua Calientes in the late morning. Do not miss the opportunity to go into the ruins as often as possible. I am not a particularly religious person, but there is something spiritual about this site that I cannot explain. In the early hours, virtually alone among the ruins, in the mist, it truly does give one time to pause and consider the beauty, spirituality and isolation of the site.
This was our very favorite trip out of thirteen...until we did the Classic Safari!!!
My fingers did tingle and I was hanging out for a G&T by the time we got to Vegas, but I was able to walk out to Angel Point at the Grand Canyon. Naturally, the pills didn't make me any fitter, so it was still a slow walk! Some people on my trip couldn't walk more than a few paces from the bus at scenic spots. I felt so sorry for them because they had listened to all the people who scoffed at them when they wondered about the issues ... I suppose because it wasn't Everest.
Of course, the pills (Diamox) might not be right for Mr B, but it's worth a thought. You might get to Peru yet.
Cheers,
Jan
p.s. a follow-up to my last email- my campaign (pleading and a carefully-made full color presentation book) worked- we are a go for Classic Italy, Small Group, May 2016
Well done on the Classic Italy!! We did this one twice, first ourselves and then with our sons, we liked it so much! I am impressed with the presentation effort!! Perhaps, a post-retirement consultation job in PR!! I would have LOVED to hike Huayna Picchu, but there was not enough time. When we were there, the gates open up at 6am and people have lined up to enter...they run across the ruins to get tickets to climb. As I recall, they issued 200 tickets for 7 am and 200 tickets for 11 am. The last bus we could take down was 10:30. Again, I am not totally sure I am recalling the exact numbers (or things have changed), but sadly, there was no time. Also, the morning we were there it was very misty and the peak was shrouded in clouds, it would clear and then mist up again. I would hate to climb that and not see anything (reminds me of a long trip to Crater Lake only to have it so fogged in we couldn't see three feet off the road let alone the lake!).
Joyce
Jan, we know about the altitude meds, just a little too cautious after experiences in Colorado and high up in Sante Fe New Mexico. Our fit son is also not good at altitude. We have seen lots of photos and blogs from friends who have trekked the Inca trail and I've read the best seller 'Turn Right at Machu Piccho' I believe it was called, plus the Narional Geograpgic travelling exhibit on Hiram Bingham, that will have to do unfortunately.
Thank you for your reply.
I'm glad I asked this question because I now have a much better idea about what to expect during the daily outings.
Another question, if I may: Did you make use of a small back pack during the times you were off the ship?
I know Tauck recommends them. But, I am definitely trying to keep EVERYTHING to a minimum.
I'm glad AlanS asked about hiking up to Huayna Picchu. Based on what I had read, I was assuming that we would not have time. But, I am glad to now know for sure.
Getting information from someone who has "been there, done that" is great!
Thank you for correcting me - I will hope to see sea turtles (not tortoises) when we snorkel...
And, I am definitely looking forward to seeing the Blue Footed Boobies.
We have been to Africa and I would go back in a heart beat. It has been two and a half years since we were there but our memories are still very vivid. We went to the Genocide Museum in Rwanda. It is not something I was looking forward to doing but I felt it would be dis-respectful not to. It was really hard for me to see it all but, to this day, I am glad that we went. When it comes to Africa, it is true when they say "When you go to Africa, it gets into you!" Hopefully some day we will go back.
Thank you again!
HML
If you asked me to make a practical list for the Galapoagos part of the tour, which of course is the one we know...
The ship is small, it is an expedition vessel, so everything is clean but basic in your room, perfectly adequate. There were no keys to lock you door, perfectly safe, don't fret or panic about this, everyone is in the same boat--- ha ha.Lovely friendly crew. You do not need to dress up at all for dinner, it's an expedition ship. At the back of the boat there is a drying area where you put your shoes/sandals when you get back from a wet landing, they dry quickly---if you have generic looking shoes, it's worth putting something on them or writing your name in case someone picks up yours by mistake. Take along some extra ziplock bags for items that may also get wet while on an excursion. Mornings start with a very gentle wake up call on the boat loudspeaker system which starts really quietly and gets louder, I thought it was cute, and yes 6am was wake-up call. If you get hooked on the stories of the first European settlers, buy the books when you see them at Baltra airport, they are much much cheaper than trying to find them at home, as I found to my cost. I found the fact that the names of the islands were confusing because each has two different names. Can't tell from the itinerary now whether you visit Post Office Bay, where there is the original barrel post box, where you can put a postcard in and someone else can come along, check all the addresses on the cards and personally mail one that is in your country or nearby. We mailed several and got a reply from a man who lived in a nearby town, he invited us to his yacht, we looked him up, he was some big muckety muck who owned a big business, we never took him up on it, maybe we should have!
Ah, Galapagos is where I first saw someone wearing a 'buff' like they use on Survivor TV show. It was one of the local guides, we now wear them on our more adventure type tours and they have been lifesavers for dust control, smell, protecting neck and/or face from the sun. I guess you could also use them to secure a bandage on a limb, a hand muffler, wow you get the picture. You can buy them from any outdoor specialist store, round about the $20 or so price, lovely cute colors or plain, male or female.
That's all I remember for now.
I think I mentioned I make an MSWord document from informative Tauck forum posts that helps us with arrangements, packing, expectations, etc., etc. Since we have just a tad under 90 days before K&T, I have been editing the one it did for that trip - it is 22 pages long! It needs some serious editing to remove duplicate entries and some that are no longer applicable.
For anyone who is interested, here are two pages w/facing pages from my Classic Italy "presentation" book (resolution was lost during posting process):
The snorkeling was always either a morning or an afternoon event, never all day, so there was never any suggestion of spending the entire day in our swimming gear. We always wore the wet suits back to the ship and changed out of them once on board.
My advice is to get into the water every chance you get. We swam with turtles, played with sea lions (or, rather, they played with us!), watched penguins shoot underneath us, swam towards shark sightings rather than away from them, and surfaced time and time again to exclaim, "Wow. Did you see that!"
The landings, both wet and dry, are best done hands-free, so a small back pack is useful. We carried one between us for small things like cameras, sunscreen, water bottles, etc. We also took a small micrfibre travel towel so that, for wet landings, we could do this barefoot then quickly dry our feet before putting shoes on.
There is so much to enjoy about this trip. You will love it.
Rob.
Cheers to you both!
Jan
Well, this has turned into quite a lively discussion!! Alan, Your" presentations" are fabulous!! I hope you are also doing a recap presentation either through My Publisher books/ DVD's or both!!! Tauck should really consider hiring you to work some travel shows!! BTW, I know you have probably combed through all the previous posts for The Classic Safari. The wonderful video by Handy Andy is what convinced my husband to travel to Africa (a dream of mine) after our Egypt trip was cancelled! It really says a lot about what a great presentation it is when I have looked at someone's home video about four times!! It is great! My thanks to Andy!!
Now, back to the subject at hand...HML, yes, you really do need a small backpack or daybag for this trip. There is just too much stuff to tote around...sunblock, possible cover-ups, water, bug stuff, cameras, towels, etc. . Years ago my husband picked up a small backpack... sort of silky material not the heavier canvas-type fabric used in Jansport packs...from TJ Maxx for about twenty bucks. He used it for a few trips, mainly for airline travel and hikes. I thought I would upgrade him to a tres chic bag and bought him a very cool and costly Tumi shoulder bag. Well, that was a mistake and the very cool bag sits in the closet while he loves his orange backpack! And, I hate to admit, that backpack is great for all sorts of travel. It is small and light , holds two water bottles in a mesh pocket on the outside, and I am able to cram all sorts of extras into it while he carries it (a huge perk right there). Since it is a backpack, it leaves his hands free. I use a Baggallini tote bag, which is great to carry all kinds of stuff for air travel, but you still have to sling it over your shoulder. A lightweight backpack is really the best for this particular trip.
British mentions the buff which is one of the best investments we have ever made for all of the reasons she states. What a versatile hunk of fabric! We did not have it for this trip (got it for Africa a few years later), but it would be an outstanding addition for sun protection, etc. . A word about the sun...it is brutal! We religiously applied lotion at every opportunity. I was surprised at the amount of sun I got while snorkeling. I got a lovely tan, from mid-thigh to heel on the backs of my legs, which lasted for about a year. That was fine while wearing a mid-thigh wetsuit in the Galapagos but not so flattering when I tried wearing a bathing suit the following summer. Another note...the sun shirts (Columbia, North Face, REI, etc.) are perfect sun protectors...cool, long-sleeved, zipped pockets, etc. They are great for hikes (with a tank top underneath) and I even wore mine in the water when I didn't wear my wetsuit while snorkeling (one or two times).
Finally, another word about the safety of snorkeling. I never felt unsafe while in the water. Perhaps, British's experience a few years earlier changed the protocol for the ensuing years. Most of us wore wetsuits, and those who needed a bit more flotation wore an inflatable device. I can't remember what it looked like other than it was yellow...Our TD was usually swimming with us, but those panga drivers kept a very close watch over those who were in his boat. They maneuvered to pick up those who wanted to come in while keeping a very careful eye on those of us who were still in the water and followed us as we drifted along. I was so impressed with their vigilance. It seemed as if they were always right there!
You are going to have such a fabulous trip! This is truly a trip of exploration and energy!! If there were not other places that beckon, I would be back in a heartbeat!!
Thank you for all the information and suggestions.
Based on multiple comments on these forums, I am now looking forward to the snorkeling even more than before!
I think I will follow your lead and take a small microfibre towel as well.
We already have some.
Rob, did you go to Machu Picchu as well?
If so, do you remember how much time you had at MP on the day you arrived there? I am assuming there will be at least a couple of hours to explore, before it closes for the day.
Only thirty days until we leave home!
Thanks again.
Joycesw,
Before I hit "send" I saw your post.
Thank you. The comment about your hubbies tres chic bag made me smile!
I have a number of Bagellini and Derek Alexander bags and of those there are four back packs that will work.
And, based on your and Rob's comments, I will definitely now be making room for one of them. Thank you again.
If my husband checks his bag I will take sunscreen from home. If he doesn't check his bag, we will need to buy some when we arrive in Peru. Currently I have a number of travel size tubes, from my Dermatologist, that I will take regardless. They are SPF 60 and 70!
Hey, I understand your comment of "other places that beckon." That is the main reason we have not been back to Australia yet.
I must admit, I don't know what the Buff is. I will have to do some research.
British,
I don't think we will be visiting Post Office Bay which is a disappointment for me.
I think it would be pretty cool to see.
But, as was already mentioned, there is always a chance that our itinerary might change.
Well, ladies and gents, that is all for now.
And once again, thank you for your input, information, suggestions and answers/confirmations.
I really do appreciate it all.
HML
We arrived at MP just before lunch (the restaurant was extremely crowded and very busy) and had quite a long time to explore the ruins in the afternoon. We then had a second go at them the next morning.
We visited at about the same time of year as you will be, and the water was a bit cool, but the wetsuits made it possible to stay in for quite a while without getting too cold. My wife was a bit diffident about the snorkelling at first. She chose not to do it on the first day, preferring to kayak instead. She missed out on seeing the best range of colourful fish that I have ever seen and she immediately regretted not taking the plunge from the start. These fish were not so much in evidence at later snorkelling sites, but the larger marine life was.
Rob.
I am so grateful to be getting the answers to my questions.
Thank you.
Just in case you missed some of the other posts/forums: When we were in Columbia (many years ago) we went snorkeling and I was completely astonished by the vibrant colours of the fish. I can still visualize them.
At the end of the cruise did you get the cd of photos that were taken by the on-board photographer(s)?
If so, were there any under-water photos?
HML
"Thank you" to both of you.
I am hoping that we will get a CD. I like to see photos that are from different perspectives and different angles than ours.
Maybe I will ask about it, in the early days of our tour, which might encourage them to create one... A method to my madness (as my grandmother used to say).
I just received a notice from our USA post office box provider - We have a parcel to pick up - I think it might be our Tauck duffel bags!!!
Sooooooo, as soon as I get a new bathing suit and make sure I still have the correct electrical converters/adapters I will be good to go. Yeahhhhh.
HML