from Dublin to........Mirissa, Sri Lanka: Samba Tour, Galapagos (Ecuador)

Tour Date: Dec 4-11, 2012

When you first set eyes on it, moored next to some of the larger catamarans you start questioning how everyone is going to fit on the Samba motor yacht. Yet once aboard there seems to somehow be enough room to comfortably move around and find a quiet nook to rest if you desire. It is generally marketed in the Tourist-Superior class but more appropriately fits into the next category up, First Class. Eight days on this elegant yacht with a crew and guide that are all first class and very professional... exceeding even my very high expectations. What could be better?

This tour sailed the North West islands of Genovesa, Marchena, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, finishing in Santa Cruz. Our itinerary was well balance between land trips, snorkelling, panga rides and a bit of R&R. Some opted to pass on certain activities and work on their glow but I highly recommend doing all the excursions as they are all carefully selected to see different animals at their most active time of day, that also optimises the light for photography. This extra consideration, much appreciated by myself, became even more evident when you saw other boats visiting the same sites, but at the wrong times of the day, which compromises the experience to a certain degree and can make it more challenging to take photos in good light. Another important detail is that ample time is spent at most locations, sufficient time to sit, observe, enjoy and soak it all in, rather than be hurriedly following on the heels of your guide.

I can't speak highly enough of the crew and our guide, Juan. All were incredibly friendly and helpful and ensured a seamless experience. Juan is quite simply the most knowledgeable guide I have ever come across. There may have been only one question he did not know the answer to all week. An interesting distinction is that he is also (or was) a guide on the mainland of Ecuador and still guides in the Antarctica. This, along with his marine biology/geology education, means he is a wealth of information and is able to impart knowledge of other regions around the world to enhance your understanding of formation, evolution and the uniqueness of the Galapagos region, its flora and fauna.

The itinerary is provided here (http://www.galapagos-cruises.ca/yate/Samba2012.html). I wont walk you through it hour by hour but provide a few of my more memorable experiences (amongst many):

* Our attempt at swimming with dolphins.. They love riding the bow of the boat or playing in the waves created by the swell but are a little more reluctant to swim with humans....we aren't much fun. We chased them around on the pangas watching them jump out of the water trying to predict what direction they were going to get ahead of them. Then it was overboard and straight under....a small pod of 8-10 below us. We tried following them but they were far too fast. The other panga was a little more successful in getting their dolphins to behave and hang around.

* Watching dozens of huge turtles feed under the water in the shallows was quite mesmerising. They are a little shy but will occasionally come right up close to your snorkelling mask and quickly scoot away. You can actually hear them grazing on the algae and plant life on the rocks, gently swaying side to side in the gentle swell. They vary greatly in color and markings, with some also having barnacles affixed to their shells. Never seen so many of them. They just appeared to be everywhere.

* The blue footed boobies feeding - These unusual and exceptionally docile birds (their name derives from bobo, spanish for stupid fellow) couldn't care less about your presence. You can walk within a few feet of them and they will continue along their merry way oblivious to any possible threat. They are quite curious though, starring at you intently wondering what you are. They are in their element when they are feeding on the schools of small fish forced near to the surface by predators below. The boobies tuck in their wings, elongate the body into a very aerodynamic position and plunge into the water, diving up to 25m below. Great to watch. Accidents to happen.....collisions in the air and under water.

* Seal lions - These guys are by far the most interactive and fun to swim around. Curious, playful and teasing. A lot of fun. Never got tired of encountering them.

* The tropicbird - a very beautiful, elegant looking bird that can't land to save itself. It generally needs to land on the side of a cliff as its feet are too weak to walk. Watching them attempt to land and abort at the last moment is comical. They maybe make a landing 1 in 100 attempts. Very hard to get a good photo of as they move so fast.

* Sharks - Any time we went snorkelling I was keeping a keen eye out for sharks....saw some massive hammerheads, white-tip reef shark, black-tip sharks, Galapagos shark (I think) and another small, spotted shark (2-3 feet long) that I can't pinpoint the name of (doesn't come up in any Google searches).