welcome
sorry i cant answer your question, but here is some info for you to consider. Also, i dont know what you know or dont or what research you have done or not.
the info i post is more or less from the travel books i have bought/read about the Galapagos. THey are also relevant to other places i have been to and have more or less spot on.
And note, there is a SEARCH feature on TA if you want to try it on the yacht.
In any case, this is the jist of what was in my books and what can be important. And i found it to be spot on, for me and my wants.
> its was important to find a ship that had < 16 or so people.
> the dingys/pangas carry 8 guests with guides/driver. So when you move people to/from ship, its takes 2 pangas/dingys if the ship has 2. As our did and as i observed on the other ships that size. If the ship doesnt, then it will need to go back/forth again, to get everyone off the ship taking more time.
> the cruise i did was 8 days. And it covered most of the western islands - in relation to Baltra. I did my homework on what i wanted to hopefully see and that pointed me in that direction.
> As with a hotel when you travel, you may not spend alot of time in it, hopefully, but out and out experiencing what the place has to offer. This was also true for the cruise. we were more or less out and about. Only to return for lunch/dinner and then after dinner for the most part, it was moving the ship to the next place.
> here was a typical dialy thing we did.
- wakup, maybe breakfast/snack. Then muster for a land based walk or snorkel.
- go back to ship for lunch, then head back out to snorkel or land based walk.
- then go back for dinner. Then move the ship to the next place. Sometimes we would move at lunch.
while there was a little bit down time, there wasnt alot and i was tired at the end of each day. It could have been the temp/humidity...ect, but i was happy to have the time to sleep/rest and i didnt see/hear many people out and about during the off time.
im not sure what the Quasar Evolution has or not. but thats up to you to decide. I found that the ship i was on was smaller, but it was fine for what i need and what i need is simple/practical. Id rather spend the difference on extra days or some nice meal or something else. but thats just me and how i do/see things.
YMMV
good luck
We were in the Galapagos April 2023 on the Tip Top II. The Evolution followed us for 7 of the 8 days, so their passengers got essentially the same land and snorkel based experience that we did. I can't speak to their time on the ship, but if it was like us, they weren't on the ship that much. Prices for the Evolution were about $3,000/person more than our trip. Our trip was amazing, and I was happy to have that $3,000 to spend adding on Peru and Machu Picchu instead.
We are returning to the Galapagos with our kids next summer, and will be on the Anahi.
The Evolution does look like a gorgeous ship. All of their fleet are really pretty ships.
Here is link to my trip report on the Tip Top II. Feel free to ignore it, but it can give you an idea of what you'll be doing day to day.
Thank you both for your replies, greatly appreciate the insights.
My wife has been wanting to do this trip for a few years, so I thought I’d better get busy and start learning about as much as possible. As you both know, there are many options of places to see, and things to do, and ways to do it. Still in early planning, but I have figured out that we want to fly in & out of GYE, instead of Quito - avoid that 9000’ elevation change.
Not sure which islands and sights are most important for her, so I’ll need her help on that. I’m sure any direction of travel will be spectacular. Thanks again,
I look forward to any further tips and advice!
5,168 posts
23 helpful votes Dear 2SD,
I charted the Evolution twice (2022, 2024) for a not-for-profit fundraising cruise (my husband's alma mater). It's a very nice ship, great guides.
Warmest regards,
Heather Blenkiron
Heather, thank you for your reply.
After reading the TR about the Tip Top 2, I’ve started looking at some other ships also.
Thoughts about the Tip Top 2, Coral 1, and Isabella 2?
I like the 32-40 person size ships, a bit bigger should offer somewhat smoother sailing, yet the 16 person ships offer a bit more intimate adventure.
Any info and thoughts on these other 3 ships greatly appreciated. Thanks again to everyone, really want to get this just right for my wife (and myself), to enjoy this dream trip.
2SD, I'm a planner and wanted to get my last trip to Galapagos just right. I made a spreadsheet with my wish list animals, and the islands where they live. Then I compared the itineraries that would make it most likely I'd see them.
So I suggest you ask your wife what her wish list has--don't let her get too crazy--and then proceed from there. You are guaranteed to see iguanas, sea lions and Blue-footed Boobies. And most cruises will probably included an excursion to see the giant tortoises on a ranch. But if she wants something more exotic like penguins, Waved Albatross, or specific species of bird, then that will require some careful research.
Thanks for the spreadsheet idea, was going to mark my map with post-its of the different animals/birds/etc. Lots to see, different ship routes, itineraries, ship sizes…
Is there a chance you could share your spreadsheet?
It’d be helpful for many I’m sure.
Or pm me ?
Thanks!
Sorry, I didn't save the spreadsheet. But this website is very helpful for wildlife info https://www.galapagosislands.com/nature/wildlife/
Thanks, that site has a lot of info.