Hi Sarah - Galapagos is a great place! I suggest you start by reading Barry Boyce's book A Travelers Guide to the Galapagos. It gives a great overview of the different islands and animals you will see so you can decide on the itinerary that interests you the most - then you can pick the boat accordingly.

A friend went with Gap to Galapagos and really enjoyed it - it was quite reasonably priced.

Thanks Elizabeth! Do you know which boat your friend went on with Gap? I'll amazon Boyce's book and check it out.

Thanks!

Elizabeth, You go, GIRL! For my 40th B-day I took my dream trip of a lifetime. I hiked the inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

You make sure that you take this trip. Don't let anything stop you!

I think my friend was on the Adventurer II - another nice reasonably priced boat is the Floreana - we met the owners and toured the boat when we were in Puerto Ayora - here's a link

http://www.yatefloreana.com/

Hi Sarah

www.saexplorers.org excellent info review discounts

the very best deals are on Santa Cruz

always take a cheap flight out tour from there on TAME

Be careful lots of bad boats and scammers on the mainland

always like to check things out myself for best experience

Read reviews carefully believe the baddies

Happy 30th!

I would second the Barry Boyce book recommendation.

"My priorities are to see lots of wildlife, hike and snorkel a bit. I prefer not to remain too long in one place and would like to avoid cities."

Cruises are focused on the wildlife so that will be easy, and it is abundant. The hiking is mostly slow walking. You can do hikes on Santa Cruz in the highlands, but those are usually longer trips. Snorkeling is not always an option, so you'll want to check specifically on whether that is offered.

You normally do two land excursions a day to different places and maybe a snorkel or two, if snorkeling is an option. Unlike many cruises, you don't stop at cities, but there is often a stop at a storied mailbox on Floreana.

Fortunately the Galapagos offer good travel year round so whenever you turn 30 will be a nice time to go.

This site, below, may be helpful, though I have no personal experience with it. I used the company, Galapagos Travel that was owned by the book author, Barry Boyce. They specialize in longer trips, from 11 days or more actually in the islands. When you ask about how long, I prefer the longer trips to see more and get the most out of your fixed costs of the flight there. But those trips are more expensive, more than $3000. You can see the animals the Galapagos is known for (blue footed boobies, tortoises, sea lions, iguanas, waved albatross--except Jan through Mar) in a 4-night cruise.

http://www.galapagosislands.com/html/travel.html

When you find something within your price range, post the itinerary and ship here for comments.

I wouldn't accept an itinerary that did not go to Espanola/Hood and Fernandina.

Good luck!

My husband and I went for one week as part of a Tauck Tour,early April.It was amazing. The ship was the Isabella II, also used by other travel companies. The ship held 40 passengers. Great size,perfect length of time, wonderful itinerary. Enjoy.

I went to Galapagos last year (for my 29th) with International Expeditions on the Evolution. The size of ship and company you travel with does make a huge difference, so you are right to ask. On the Evolution, we had swimming and snorkeling almost every day (except on first and last day) and most days we snorkeled twice. We also had daily hikes and FANTASTIC nautralists, but International Expeditions was one of the only companies that went to Genovesa Island - one of only four pristine islands left in Galapagos.

International Expeditions' cruise is 7 nights, plus one night before and after the cruise in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which has the BEST flower market!

Not sure if I am posting their link right, but you can find the itinerary I went on at http://www.ietravel.com/GalapagosIslandsTours/index.asp?itinid=531&ieid=628225

I am planning a November trip to the Amazon with my mom and we are using International Expeditions again.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I've been looking at a lot of options and reading the Barry Boyce book (thank you again!) but it seems like all the "good" trips" - guided, smaller boats - run upwards of $4000 for 10 days.

Do anyone know why this gapadventures.com is so cheap? Do they just outsource to the other boats? It makes me afraid to book with them.

Anyone have any tips?

phado - Gap Adventures is a Canadian company headquartered in Toronto (where I live) and has a really good reputation here. I know of 3 people who have taken trips with them (in about your age range) and all have taken repeat trips with Gap.

If you check out Trip Advisor there are many reviews of Gap - here's a link to a couple of Gap/Galapagos comments.

I haven't personally taken a Gap trip but based on others comments, view them favourably.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294310-i6637-k1744730-Seeking_Feedback_on_G_A_P_Galapagos_Tours-Galapagos_Islands.html