What is a typical day of sightseeing like on a Galapagos cruise?
The vessels anchor offshore at two visitor sites or islands per day. Passengers are ferried to the landing point in an small flat-bottomed boat called a panga, that is designed to land on beaches. The landings are either wet (where one must step into ankle to knee-deep water and wade to shore) or dry (where one steps from the panga directly on to a solid landing surface). The guide and panga driver assist passengers with a steady hand at all landings. On the islands, one follows marked trails established by the National Park Service, walking at a leisurely pace as the guides interpret and explain the unusual sights. Three to four hours is usually spent at each site, allowing plenty of time to explore and photograph the abundant wildlife. There are opportunities to swim and snorkel daily.
