Mar 14 – 21, 2026
Departing Cusco, Peru, our next exciting destination was the Galapagos Islands. There is no direct flight from Cusco to the islands, so we flew back to Lima and then connected to Quito, Ecuador. After spending the night in Quito we took a Silversea chartered flight to San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos the next day.
We were met by a Silversea representative when we arrived in Quito. Since we were there for just one night, we wanted to learn about the city on our ride to the hotel. We discovered details about the geography, currency, history, and elevation, and found it interesting that they use US dollars. She explained how that happened – click here to learn more.
Quito’s elevation is the same as the Sacred Valley in Peru, at 9,350′. That makes it the second-highest administrative capital in the world. It’s also the gateway to the Galapagos Islands. There are many more interesting facts that we wished we’d had an extra day to explore and learn about the city.
the city
Early morning the following day was our chartered flight to San Cristobal Island, which is one of only four islands inhabited in the Galapagos:
We were warmly greeted by our expedition leader, his team of naturalists, and the hotel director. We enjoyed a brief orientation where we learned about the unique wildlife and stunning ecosystems that awaited us. Afterwards, we had free time to wander around the small town. We felt the anticipation and excitement building as we saw sea lions everywhere, even sleeping peacefully inside a little restaurant and on the sidewalks. We thought seeing them was a good omen of more wild things to experience in this extraordinary paradise:
After wandering around for a while it was time to board our waiting expedition ship. The Silver Origin was anchored a couple of miles off the island, and instead of a traditional gangway we were whisked away on a Zodiac across a calm bay teeming with wildlife. Zodiacs are the mode of transportation for all expeditions and landings during the entire cruise. Because these islands are so pristine, the Silver Origin never docks except for maintenance in Panama.
Silversea Expeditions
There are two ways to explore the islands – cruising by water (there are several operators to choose from), or by land (staying in a hotel). We chose to cruise on Silver Origin, a destination-specific ship operated by Silversea Expeditions. It was designed just for the Galapagos islands, with an itinerary that gives access to remote islands requiring special permits and the guidance of skilled expert guides.
Silversea boasts an all-Ecuadorian crew, from the captain and expert naturalists to the deck hands and a signature butler service. Our trip was indulgent and personal, including the highest guest-to-crew ratio – 97 passengers and 90 crew members. Wow!
The Restaurant
The ship is constructed in a way that allows sweeping views of the islands 24×7, thanks to large floor-to-ceiling windows that extend throughout the vessel. It features 51 suites, all with butler service but I forgot to take his picture, but we did utilize his services.
The naturalist guides on the Expedition Team must complete a thorough training course and can only apply if they are legal residents of the Galapagos Islands. All visitors to Galapagos must be accompanied by a certified naturalist guide. They are well-trained, enthusiastic about the environment, very knowledgeable and friendly.
with him!
Our itinerary had the ship crossing the equator four times:
About the Galapagos Islands
Let me set the scene:
The Galapagos Islands are known for their amazing wildlife, remote location, and beautiful beaches. Located in the Pacific Ocean, 600 miles from Ecuador, and straddles the equator the archipelago has 19 islands and some islets. Only four are inhabited, while the others are accessible only through guided tours.
This is the spot for tons of unique species you won’t find anywhere else, and that’s why the Galapagos Islands are a UNESCO world heritage site.
We learned from one of our daily briefings that this area is able to support unique species because it’s the meeting point of three oceanic currents. This creates a varying degree of warm and cold water that fosters rich and irreplaceable marine ecosystems. The animals on the islands have become endemic to their particular island due to isolation and the inability to migrate.
The islands were formed from various internal earth processes, including a combination of converging tectonic plates and volcanic formations.
You may have heard about a little thing called the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, which Charles Darwin developed during his time in the Galápagos Islands.
About 97% of the Galapagos Islands are part of Galapagos National Park, established in 1959. People live in the remaining 3% of specific rural and urban areas on only four islands. Visitors can explore the protected areas only if accompanied by authorized guides and while following strict rules to avoid causing environmental damage.
Galapagos National Park is the largest national park in Ecuador, and one of the most important protected natural areas in the world:
Galápagos National Park regulates the number and type of tourist boats that are allowed to operate in the famously biodiverse area. This helps with overcrowding, conserving the environment and minimizing stress on the amazing wildlife. Each time we landed on an island or explored an area we were the only vessel operating at that specific time. We never saw any other ships or boats anchored for exploration, and this is strictly observed so that landing areas are not overcrowded.
The Galapagos is a melting pot of species – marine iguanas, giant turtles, blue-footed boobies…and so much more! Oh my! The wildlife here is really THE highlight, and you are going to meet up with them in my next post…
Next up: Incredible wildlife in the Galapagos Islands
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