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HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Close encounters with weird and wonderful wildlife > Snorkelling and diving with sea lions & turtles > ‘Young Pirates’ on-board club > The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Quito > Latin American welcome and love of children > educational & unique experience

Boobies. Blue-footed boobies to be precise. These seabirds with very smart shoes are just one of the many bizarre species to be encountered in the Galapagos Islands. For future David Attenboroughs, the swimming lizards, flightless birds and other fascinating creatures of this volcanic archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean provide an unbeatable nature experience.

From Quito, the capital of Ecuador, it’s a two-hour flight across to the Galapagos Islands, where you board La Pinta - a newly refitted ship that is specially set up for families. The week-long cruise takes in many of the 13 main islands that straddle the equator, and the on-board, English-speaking guide will answer all your questions about the ecology and natural history of the Galapagos.

Many of the marine and land animals of the Galapagos are found nowhere else, and they inspired Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution. Because of the islands’ historic isolation, the creatures there have no fear of man, which means that on trips to shore you come into close contact with marine iguanas, fur seals, sea lions, flightless cormorants, the Chatham lava lizard and the Galapagos penguin – the only tropical penguin species.

Other wildlife includes seabird colonies and giant tortoises, while on Santa Cruz island the sights include twin volcanic craters and a forest of ‘prickly pear’ cacti. There’s also time for swimming and great snorkelling, or rides on a glass-bottomed boat to see marine life such as rays, turtles and colourful fish.

For children aged seven to twelve, La Pinta operates a ‘Young Pirates’ programme providing a range of supervised activities and affording parents a little ‘adult time’. As well as fun and games, the Young Pirates programme includes an educational aspect: children are taught about life on Earth, the story of evolution and pick up a general appreciation of the natural world.

After the cruise, families might like to stay on in the Galapagos for a few days at the Finch Bay Hotel on Santa Cruz Island, where you can relax on the beach, go scuba diving, mountain biking and explore the island at your own pace.

Finally, back on the mainland there is the chance to take in the historic colonial centre of Quito, plus the magnificent volcanoes and cloud forests nearby before flying home. You could say that the family holiday has evolved…

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ADDITIONAL PARENT- RELEVANT INFORMATION

La Pinta:
Minimum age for the Galapagos cruise is 6 years old
Special children’s menus on board. ‘Young Pirates’ programme, for children aged 7 to 12, includes: animal puzzles, Galapagos videos and movies for children, treasure hunts, stargazing, bracelet weaving & bead necklace making.

Finch Bay:
Minimum age for scuba diving is 10 years.

PRICE
Based on a family of four with two children aged under 12. £3385 per adult, £2445 per child (under 12). We do not recommend this trip for families with children younger than 7. Price includes: Flights in economy class, accommodation on a full board basis (except Swissotel which is B&B), and all transfers and activities.