International Expeditions (IE) has announced three options to discover Galapagos, including an expedition cruise, private villa and intimate ecolodge for discovering the legendary wildlife and history of these “Enchanted Isles.”
Mixing popular sightseeing spots and less-visited gems, each expedition option unfolds the islands’ deserts, beaches, lush highland forests, volcanoes and a trove of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world.
During IE’s 10-day Galapagos cruise aboard the 32-guest yacht M/V Evolution, guests come just inches from giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, penguins, iguanas and many other animals. IE’s naturalist guides — all Galapagos National Park-certified with top “Naturalist Level 3” designations — lead discussions about conservation and the islands’ ecosystems featuring desert landscapes, highland forests, volcanic soils and waters. This immersive expedition navigates to islands, where the small group size allows for easy access to the wildlife and far more personal attention than guests find aboard larger cruise ships.
Travelers looking for a luxurious escape can take advantage of IE’s exclusive private villa in the Galapagos Islands — Casa La Iguana, a five-bedroom villa on Santa Cruz Island. The villa staff includes a naturalist, concierge, private chef, barman, waiter, maid, and housekeeper. Plus, all meals, wine and cocktails are included and customized to guest preferences. Each party's villa stay also includes all meals, wine, and cocktails in the islands, use of Ecuadorian cell phone, wireless Internet, and fully-customized itinerary.
Tucked into a pedestrian-only area of mangroves and white-sand beaches, IE’s Galapagos ecolodge option is ideal for travelers who want to add more beach time and activity options to their Galapagos adventure. Guests can relax around the pool or on the beach; join naturalist-guided small-group nature excursions with other lodge guests aboard a private boat; or kick-up the adventure with multi-sport options like SCUBA diving and mountain biking.
