We're in the Galapagos this week. Here are a few photos from our first landing. More information later...

One of our favorite places of all times. Did over 30 years ago when the ship's were pretty primative.

WOW!!!! :app: :app:

Very cool! The Galapagos has to be one of my favorite places to visit. It not only lives up to the hype, it exceeds it.

Which ship are you on?

We're on our last full day in the Galapagos. Here are a few more photos from the week. We're on the Celebrity Xpedition which has been excellent.

Simply gorgeous shots. Thanks for sharing.
Hope you have time to post a trip report about your experience upon your return.

WOW! :app: Grant & Dena, incredible photos. From what I hear, the Galapagos are a must-do.

We have to get there. Great shots!

I stumbled on this thread. Glad I did. Greg and I are booked on that same ship.. the Celebrity Xpedition for July 2011. We are taking our oldest son to the Gallapagos for a high school graduation present.

Grant & Dena.. anything we should know? tips for traveling to the Gallapagos?

We were on the Xpedition 3 yrs ago with our son who was 17. Had a great time, but food is not near up to Regent standards. By all means, avoid the hamburgers--they were awful. Salads and fish were good and safe bets. The ceviche is not raw, so I even ate some, and it was very good.
Room is pretty small--I had to sleep in the bunk because our son is 6"4' and wouldn't fit. Very compact but functional bathroom.
There are usually 2 landings per day with choice between easy and more difficult. We always did the more difficult option, and they were really easy except for the fact that a lot of time you are walking on lava that has solidified. Be sure and bring hiking shoes that can handle that. Sandals will not work on the lava.

Greg & Viv - The Galapagos adventure on Xpedition is indeed excelllent, as Grant noted. Pat & I did the trip in May, 2009 and loved it, although I did not get Grant's gorgeous photos. There is a monster thread about Xpedition on the CC Celebrity Roll Call boards:

Xpedition-Anyone Recently Back?

Although it is very long (446 pages at the moment), nearly every possible question about the trip is answered somewhere on the thread, usually a number of times. It was the source of loads of good info for us.

Cheers, Fred

Our internet availability is limited but we will post more details when we get home next week. We're back in Quito now and headed to Peru - Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco tomorrow. Greg & Viv - we'll post more information when we get home, but if you have any specific questions, let us know. We thought the food was pretty good - maybe it has improved from a few years ago. Lots of fresh ingredients and maybe not fancy but good quality. Last night we had delicious (and very large) lobster tails and it was the third straight day of lobster. A few more photos...

Enjoy Peru! It's amazing too, in a completely different way. Looking forward to more gorgeous photos!

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing . . .

Peggy

Dena and Grant. I enjoyed it all. So glad you posted as much as you did. Absolutely love the birds.

Actually, Grant, you are right. I hope the food has improved. On our flight back to Quito, my husband sat next to an executive from Celebrity who had been onboard for a couple of days checking out operations. My husband gave him an earful about the quality of food, as that was really our only complaint. The guy seemed to listen, so maybe it made a difference. At that time, they were only allowed to use beef raised in the Galapagos, and as cattle ranchers, I can tell you from looking at those cattle, they were very poor quality. Hopefully, that has changed.

We just enjoyed a great first day in Peru. We arrived in Cusco this morning and toured the Pisac ruins and town and are staying in the Sacred Valley tonight.

Loving your pictures!

Welcome to Peru, No. 9. Thanks for the great photos - looking forward to your comments upon your return.

Cheers, No. 7 (majority whip)

Great photos!

Doug

Loving these photos, Grant! Thank you for sharing!

I wish I could remember these signature things you and Anne have and why. But I think it has something to do with Africa?

Sacred Valley, Day 2:


Chinchero


Chinchero ruins


Moray - believed to be an Incan experimental area for agriculture


Local style house


View from the top of the Ollantaytambo ruins


Maras salt pans

Grant spectacular photos as usual! What else would be expect from the award winning photographer from the Explorer 11.

Looked like a wonderful Galapagos trip and Peru is a unique place. Cant wait to see your next series of pictures.

We are back in Cusco after two days in Machu Picchu. It's the rainy season and we had a little rain but nothing to stop us. We stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge which we highly recommend. The convenience, service, and food were all excellent. (FYI - we got a decent rate on Expedia but had to prepay for the reservation.) This made it easy for us to go into the ruins at 6 am this morning when the sun was out and the visibility was excellent. We hiked to the top of Huayna Picchu today and enjoyed the great views from there.


Grant on the rocks at the top of Huayna Picchu. Machu Picchu is visible just behind his elbow.


We made it! From the top of Huayna Picchu you get a great view of the ruins below.


Another view from the top of Huayna Picchu. The Sanctuary Lodge is visible to the left.


Dena and friends at the Machu Picchu ruins


MP ruins from a different angle. Huayna Picchu is the green peak to the left of center.


Machu Picchu ruins with Huayna Picchu in the center.


View through a door

Have loved all your pix of your fascinating journey - thanks so much!

What fantastic photos! You've captured it so well.

Grant,

Great job. Looks like you and Dena are having a wonderful trip.

Grant, your pictures should be in National Geographic. They are spectacular. It sure is bringing back wonderful memories of Peru and Machu Picchu. Can you bring me home a llama please!

Keep having such a wonderful vacation!!!