How amazing is it to explore new exotic places? It's what we live for here at In The Loop Travel.
High -- like at the top -- on our wish list is a trip someday to the Galapagos Islands.
So, I'm really excited that Un-Cruise Adventures has added cruises to this marvelous region of the world. What could be better than sailing in close, heading ashore and exploring this pristine area that is home to animals and plant species not found anywhere else in the world: marine iguanas and Galapagos tortoises, as well as blue-footed boobies, bottlenose dolphins, albatrosses, sea turtles and so many more.
Un-Cruise announced its 2016 itineraries with its first voyages to the Galapagos and Costa Rica/Panama included.
Check out these trips:
The Galapagos Islands: Following in Darwin's footsteps, eight departures are scheduled on a 10-day itinerary to colonial Quito, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. This includes a two-day tour of historic Quito and a weeklong cruise among the islands. The 48-passenger La Pinta explores Isla San Cristobal, Isla Santa Cruz, Isla Bartolome, Isla Santiago,and two of the archipelago's showcase islands: Genovesa and Espanola. Island hikes, glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling and kayaking bring you up close to wildlife including iguanas, sea lions, birds, penguins and giant tortoises. Fares include transfers, flights between Quito and Galapagos, fees, taxes, tours and adventure activities, as well as premium wine, beer and spirits onboard La Pinta. Rates begin at $8,995 per person, double occupancy. Feel even more adventurous and still need to take another couple thousand pictures? Optional tour extensions include a five-day Amazon rainforest voyage and a seven-day guided land tour exploring Peru and Machu Picchu.
If we don't get to the Galapagos in the next year or two, I might go crazy. Maybe for my 50th birthday, I'll book a big trip. This would be just amazing, obviously, and I know the Un-Cruise Adventures experience is just the type of active-travel voyage from which you'd like to see a thorough review. Let's go ahead and make plans to get on one of these journeys. Mrs. In The Loop? Are you reading this? Getting the hint yet for what I want for my birthday?
Costa Rica and Panama: From October 2016 through April 2017, Un-Cruise's 64-passenger Safari Voyager sails 29 weeklong adventure cruises on an uncharted isthmus. See sloths, monkeys and mangroves on an itinerary between San Jose, Costa Rica and Panama City (or reverse). Jungle hikes and watersports activities occur throughout the voyage in Curu National Wildlife Refuge, Isla Tortuga, Manuel Antonio National Park, Corcovado National Park, Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica; and Coiba National Park, Gulf of Panama Islands, Panama. A full Panama Canal transit is included in each voyage. Rates begin at $2,995 per person, double occupancy.
We've been to Costa Rica and Panama before and will go to both again this year during our transit of the Panama Canal on a Celebrity Cruises sailing. These locations offer so much to see with their wildlife diversity and history. I especially love going to Costa Rica to interact with the country's friendly people who preach "pura vida," the pure life, and it shows in their near-constant smiles and welcoming nature.
Un-Cruise Adventures' fleet of yachts and small ships carry 22 to 88 people on adventure and river cruises ranging from one week to 21 nights. Adventure activities, tours, and presentations are included. Check out the rest of the itineraries at www.un-cruise.com.