During our New Year's dinner, my husband and I tossed around ideas for our no-kids trip of 2007. We think we have it narrowed down to either Jordan or Ecuador. We would love to do a Galapagos cruise with naturalists and really learn and explore the islands. However, realistically, we can't do 10 days. That is too much time away from the kids and too exhausting for the grandparents. So, does anyone know of a terrific cruise that is true eco-tourism that is perhaps a little shorter than 10 days. While cost is always a factor, we tend to splurge a bit on our solo trips and so price isn't paramount as long as there is good value associated with the money spent.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Taitai

You can do a 5 or 7 days cruise tour of the Galapagos.

Percy

Hi,

What about Sea of Cortez and/or Baja Mexico? What about Costa Rica? There are smaller, more destination-focused cruise lines with world-class naturalists, university professors, guides that serve those areas. The prices are more expensive than the primary cruise lines, but the experience is a trip of a lifetime.

Best Regards,
Julia

Several years ago we did a week-long small-boat cruise of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It was with Temptress, which was taken over by Lindblad and Cruise West, I believe. Each day we were in a new place, with a choice of different activities. Some would birdwatch in the morning, while others might go for a hike or tour a botanic garden. One afternoon everyone went up a river to view wildlife (some by dingy, others by kayak), ending in a swimming hole. It was all-inclusive, great food and naturalists, interesting cruisemates. Good luck, Galapagos is top of my list too.

You can easily do less than 10-day cruises in the Galapagos.

I'd be sure the itinerary has Hood/Espanola Island included, where the Waved Albatross usually are, plus lots of other species. If Tower/Genovesa is also included then you can see the red-footed boobies as well as the blue footed.

With the strict rules in the Galapagos, by definition the visits there are ECO in nature.

Though I've not used them, I know Inca has a good rep for small groups and ecotourism. I encountered them when I've been in the Galapagos. They used to be one of the few companies that included some days on land in addition to on the boat.

Here are some of their 11 day trips, including flights to and from Ecuador, which have cruises shorter than 10 days.

Home page
http://www.inca1.com/gps14d05.html

Their adventures
http://www.inca1.com/scheds.html

The nice thing about the Galapagos is that most any time of year is good. Jan through March the Waved Albatross are out to sea, but everything else is there year round.

We did Galapagos last June on The Flamingo-7 day tour of islands. They did a great job of filling our boat (20 people, all families with kids 14-19 years of age) Kids loved having other kids their age. Very sparse accommodations and one thing to check into is do the toilets aboard allow paper to be flushed or tossed in trash can next to toilet!But the small boat experience was wonderful-we had only 2 pangas needed to get us off boats and onto islands so we always beat the larger boats onto land-a plus-less people around. Also, only 10 people to a naturalist. My sister in law did Lindblad-more to do on the boat (although we were so tired a night we could have cared less and the kids entertained themselves). Advantage of larger boat is that there is a doctor available, better food (ours was fine) and better cabins and flushable toilets.
They also met no one on their boat and Lindblad kept telling them how well behaved the kids were on their tour so it makes you wonder about the kids on previous tours. We loved all the people on ours and wouldn't give up the small boat environment. To me, a 5 year old is too young-slippery landings, lots of rocky, and slippery hiking. However the animal life is incredible and a 5 year would love that. Snorkeling was an every day activity and water is COLD-I highly recommend full length wet suits -I hate being cold. I also recommend you bring your own-at least for the 5 year old so it fits correctly. I bought all ours off of ebay and they fit great whereas the rental ones on the boats were leakier. Unless your 5 year old is a good swimmer, snokeling in open ocean would make me very nervous-it is easy to loose tract of someone. Some snorkeling is from the beaches but still very deep water.As for time in Ecuador-spend as little as possible in Quito-large, dirty city. Do go to La Mitad del Mundo and the REAl equator at Inti-Nan solar museum. Our boat company was Metropolitan touring. Also, a visit to the Indian market at Otavalo was fun (Chichicastenango in Guatemale is better)[email protected]

Seven night trips seem to be the norm. We're booked for a May trip. We opted for a smaller boat with fewer people but made having a first rate naturlist a priority as well. We also didn't want to spend a fortune. We used Heather Blenkiron at CNH Tours, who helped us sort out different boats and different prices (the range is considerable). Heather and her husband, Marc Patry, lived in the Galapagos, and are able to provide hands on information. She has also been helpful in arranging hotels in Quito and elsewhere. She can be reached at [email protected].

My family and I went on a Galapagos cruise on the Letty, one of the Ecoventura boats and a sister ship to the Flamingo and the Eric.

3 out of 4 members of my family and 7 out of 22 people on the boat contracted a stomach virus with symptoms including fever, diarrhea and vomiting.

I would stay away from those boats.