Boating on the wild side
Navigating Galapagos' Western Islands
On a recent visit to Ecuador, I was fortunate to be able to explore some of the most pristine parts of the Galapagos Archipelago aboard an 8-cabin motor yacht. Truth be told, there is no itinerary in the Galapagos that is not truly special. The wildlife, the landscapes and nature are just so unique. In fact, the Galapagos is one of those few places where we can set the bar of expectations quite high and still travellers will come away amazed.
Whilst Darwin indeed made it famous, it is nature travellers who made it a bucket list destination. Deciding where to go in the archipelago often requires a close examination of priorities. What are the must-do experiences? Must-see species? How long can you visit for? And last, but certainly not least, is the budget. Few plan on Galapagos being a budget destination, and wisely so, since quality experiences require an equally quality budget. “You get what you pay for” is rarely more apt an expression than when applied to exploring Galapagos.
One such example of this is a 7 or 8-day expedition cruise that includes the Western Islands. If one looks at the archipelago as a tectonic conveyor belt, it is easy to understand how new islands rise in the far west via volcanic activity and then are dragged east, becoming dormant cones, eventually eroding and sinking below sea level. This means the newest, rawest islands (and also least suited for human inhabitation) are the far western ones, Isla Fernandina and Isla Isabela.
To get around to Fernandina, you must navigate around the north or south shores of the biggest island in the archipelago, Isabela. Which is just fine, since seeing her western coast is a joy, and experiencing the tip (nothing more is permitted) of Fernandina is a mystical step into the archipelago's distant past, long before the arrival of Darwin. It is that raw and natural.
Another highlight in many western island itineraries is Santiago Island, and there are so many others that are to be cherished, but the wild side of this epic national park is Isabela and Fernandina, and they are not to be missed. Not only is the wildlife stunning, unique and abundant, but its landscapes are rugged, timeless and forever etched upon the traveler's mind.
Contact Richard for a group or tailor-made Ecuador and Galapagos adventure today
After extensive travels in his home country of the USA, Richard's passion for South American literature is what first set his curiosity about the region ablaze. This amounted to a full-blown love affair while shooting documentary stills, exploring twelve countries across Central and South America, which also happened to change the course of his life as he eventually decided to set up a home base in Nicaragua, situated perfectly to continue exploring even more of Latin America. Between trips, he worked as a photojournalist and founded the country's first adventure tour operator, guided adventure trips, authored guidebooks, documentary photobooks and magazine stories, as well as created the private wildlife refuge, Lost Canyon Nature Reserve. Sharing our love for authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences, Richard couldn't wait to share his passion with Wild Frontiers' travellers, which has since led him to be recognised by Condé Nast Traveler as a top travel specialist for Latin America.
After extensive travels in his home country of the USA, Richard's passion for South American literature is what first set his curiosity about the region ablaze. This amounted to a full-blown love affair while shooting documentary stills, exploring twelve countries across Central and South America, which also happened to change the course of his life as he eventually decided to set up a home base in Nicaragua, situated perfectly to continue exploring even more of Latin America. Between trips, he worked as a photojournalist and founded the country's first adventure tour operator, guided adventure trips, authored guidebooks, documentary photobooks and magazine stories, as well as created the private wildlife refuge, Lost Canyon Nature Reserve. Sharing our love for authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences, Richard couldn't wait to share his passion with Wild Frontiers' travellers, which has since led him to be recognised by Condé Nast Traveler as a top travel specialist for Latin America.
