I promise in the next few days I will write a report. Did not take a lap top so have to start from scratch to write and with the grandkid here and work to catch up on it is going to take a few days. Few quick thoughts.

ONLY way to see the Galapagos is by boat. There are lots of boats down there most not very good although many rated five star- that is a relative term. Small cabins etc. Most run a 3 night then a 4 night trip or you can take the full 7 days. (Celebrity you have to do a 7 night trip and then days before it makes it very long)

Linda tried the boat we thought would be the best the Explorer 11 (old Renaissance ship) The cabins were okay but the bathrooms really tiny and the food really poor. She did a 3 night trip. Good bird colonies probably better choice than the four night.

We did the Klein tours option this time through Ker & Downey, they have three boats. Coral 1, Coral 11 and the Legend. We chose the Coral 1, four night trip. The ship was just refurbished and on its third trip since it came back. It holds 32 and was very good.

Coral 1. was rated a four star BEFORE refurbishment. Now definitely a FIVE star ship.

The main lounge was all rich woods, great bar and leather chairs in perfect groupings for conversation. A hot tub at the back and a small sports platform at the back (two sea lions climbed aboard and just laid back there not bothered by us at all). The dining room was also nicely laid out and the food was good. It was not fancy but good basic food that was really tasty. We did not have a bad meal. Everything was buffet. The cabins were SMALL but this is a small yacht. Amazingly we grew used to the size but I am talking small here. The naturlists were top flight, excellent and great guides. Both Marine Biologists. No entertainment except for the bartender/waiter who was a hoot. I wish Suzanne had been there she would have had a blast with this guy. The chef could not speak a word of English but had us in stitches. GREAT crew. I would not recommend this ship for a couple because if you hit the ship with a group who know each other it may not be as comfortable in my opinion but a group of 6 or more this would be a good option. If you could take the whole ship it would be fantastic. Set your own schedule and visit the best islands, get it all inclusive of drinks tips etc. WAit until I post pictures of "fabio" our nickname for our guide. A god in a speedo - Suzanne and Sheri control yourselves. We could request him too!!!!

We visited Coral 11 - no way - older desperately needs refurbishing would not go there at all. Definitely a four star.

We visited the LEGEND. Rated a five star.

Reminds me of the Song of Flower. Holds just over 100 people so more people BUT - better cabins than the Coral 1. The least expensive cabins are better than the Coral 1 and the next two categories up there are some really nice cabins with big windows. About like the Song of Flower cabins even a little better in the middle and upper categories. This is a great ship, good feel, lots of woods etc. The food looked great too. Our naturlist said the food on the Legend was the best in the Galapagos. (He is free lance and moves from ship to ship but said he prefers the Klein ships he thinks they are the best company). More options of course with more people. You get a choice and select your dinner menu at lunch. Still basic fare not gourment but nice fresh quality. This ship had a cruise director and more things to do - a swimming pool as well. I can recommend this ship without hestiation with the caveat to remember this is the GALAPAGOS and not Radisson so to lower your standards. However the ship had a great feel everyone we talked to loved it. For 7 nights this would be the ship to take.

As the to the Galapagos itself, fascinating. Ken is working on pictures and hopefully tomorrow or the next day he will have some up on ofoto.com. They will tell the story.

The snorkeling was outstanding. You do snorkel with sea lions, penguins, turtles. The sea lions came right up to you and looked in your mask.

The walks on land are not strenuous but you must be able to walk on very uneven surfaces. I do think that some of the people trying to do this should not have been trying. You have to walk over lava and it can be slippery. Many people in their 70s were doing it but some actually need walking sticks - not a good idea in my opinion.

Then you have the zodiac rides and I always love those. Riding around the cliffs looking at the animals - great fun.

Two activities a day. One in the morning around 8.30am departure back for lunch and one in the afternoon at about 3.30 pm departure. You can snorkel or not as you chose. A break in between for the ship to move islands and for a rest or socialization. Iguanas everywhere, crabs, sea lions you can walk right up to, birds, sea turtles, rays - animals and birds everywhere. No large bird colonies on the four day that is only on the three day.

No "entertainment" but they do a 7.00 pm nightly briefing about the next day and keep you informed. Each night they have a "complimentary cocktail" during the briefing.

Getting there. Fly into Quito the night before. Then a 2 1/2 flight to the islands then board. The 3, 4 or 7 night trip. Coming home the same flight back to Quito, one overnight in Quito and home again.

A great combo would be Machu Picchu first then the 3 or 4 night Galapagos. You do see different things on the 3 and 4 night. It gets tiring though so 7 nights might be long. After you see about 3000 iguanas gets pretty common place.

They showed where "Master and Commander" was filmed.

I am going to add the Galapagos to my web so will have lots of information as soon as I can pull it all together. I am going to get a package priced by Ker& Downey combining Machu Picchu and 3, 4 and 7 night Legend cruise.

As a side note we were on the ship with the Ker & Downey President, David Marek and his adorable (Meg Ryan) wife Jana and one of his employees "Chi". All three wonderful people and David and Jana are a GREAT couple. We had such a good time with them. I am encouraging them to take a Radisson cruise and for Jana to post here. What a great girl she is, full of life and so like Meg Ryan in both looks and personality. She would love this board if she started to post. She loves the interent and I am hoping she will "join us" soon. Of course she has been to Africa many times over and knows a lot of information for the "Roarers". They are all up in the Amazon right now in a lodge in the jungle. Three hours up in a boat into the jungle. I could have done that too but that long out of the office and out of interent communication was just too much time.

That should keep you all going until I can get my
act together. Any direct questions I will answer.

As you know, this is on my personal "to do" list.

You tie it in with anything (even remotely) akin to the Song or dancing bartenders (be still my heart!) and I am there.

Looking forward to Ken's pix.
Hey! Nice to have you two back, you were missed!

Same here! VERY interested. A private charter of the Coral 1 with LCT people? Sounds perfect!

Masaki

Ngaire, this was not on my to do list until I read your report. A yacht for 32 people sounds lovely.

Karen, were you lurking in Ngaire's suitcase?

Colleen, that is me, lounging on the beach in front of Ngaire and Linda :)

Ngaire,
Thanks for your fascinating report. Look forward to the photos.

Betty

Wow, Karen! Great tan. And, what did you do to your hair?

Debbie

Debbie, I call it "the wet look" :)

Welcome Home, Ngaire! Can't wait to see Ken's photos. I was not that interested in something like this, but I may change my mind. Looking forward to hearing more details!

I asked Karen to post that picture for me. That is the YACHT - isnt it a sleek little thing. Wasnt Ken good at getting that sea lion to pose in the exact spot he needed - good direction on his part!!!

Ken is at the station today so he is working on pictures. Hope to have some up in a couple of days. I will also get Ron's pictures and have some of those posted as well. Might take a little longer.

Ngaire

Ngaire, You're good looking, but you just don't have the pose like that little lady, Karen.

That is an amazing photo, Ngaire! Please pass along my kudos to Ken. And that yacht -- wow!

Boy, Ngaire, are you talking our language with a Machu Picchu and Galapagos/LEGEND package. We had to cancen our 2004/2005 through the Panama Canal to Lima with the ultimate destinagtion being Machu Picchu. Still want to do the Panama Canal. But the real ultimate South America destinations are Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. To visit both destinations in relative style strikes me as a MUST DO.

Pat

Ngaire....this sounds so great! We'd love to go with you!!

The problem is WHEN can we go.

So much going on right now. From now through to 007 in October 2005 is FULL. Then comes Party. Probably the only time possible in 2005 to consider is November but I know that it is pretty close to Party and the summer cruises. Of course everyone is not doing everything. That is a good time too for the animals. All the baby chicks are out and it is not too hot.

Otherwise we move to 2006. We have ROAR in April and then MUSH in September and hopefully N.Z. in January 2007. There will be some time in there we could squeeze in a week.

Of course this wont be anywhere near as expensive trip as ROAR and New Zealand. I have Ker & Downey figuring up the cost of combining Machu Picchu and the Galapagos which I think is a good idea. You all know that I have NOT been to Machu Picchu though so it will be the blind leading the blind. They have such good tour people it wont be a problem. The Hiram Bingham train is supposed to be great but expensive. However K&D said they get a good rate on that and it would not be that much more to experience the train. The wife of the President of K&D had just done it and said is was fantastic.

We can mix it up too - some do Machu Picchu and 3 days Galapagos, some do just the ship for the 3 or 7 days. Just a little "co-ordination" required.

Once I have costs I will post and we can see if we can do it in 2005 but I think we are going to have to move it on down the line to 2006. Depends on how many can handle a November date and how many want to go.

Dont know why but I prefer to keep anything with LCT to LCT people and not mix with other clients. Somehow I just think that works better. We all have a "common bond".

Ngaire,
Thanks for the wonderful report on your trip to Galapagos. Ken's photos were spectacular!

Galapagos has not been high on our list but your trip has elevated it.
Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Pat

Ngaire

Due to my Voyager at the end of October cruise, I would have to vote for 2006. Manchu Picchu is on my must do list. And I think I have a friend that would like to do this one with me. Yea - no single supplement. And I am on the NZ list for 2007, so.....
At this point I only have a land cruise for 2006 scheduled for Sept/Oct. ROAR is looking less and less possible for me. But I always hope & wish.
How can you keep all our requests straight? Your calendar must look like something else.
Now off to check out Ken's photos.

Ken's photos are fantastic! We are interested in a Galapagos trip at some point.

I've read that the best time to visit the Galapagos is mid-April to mid-May, according to one web site:

"The skies are usually clear. The air and sea are relatively warm. The water is calm. Vegetation is green. Colorful wild flowers are abloom. And, it's not yet high season when boat, ship, tour, cruise, hotel, and air costs peak."


We are planning to do a Peru land/hiking trip, possibly this fall. In the research I've done, the best time to visit Peru (for hiking) is June - August (with May and September being the "shoulder" season.)

We like our creature comforts, (ie no camping) so we are trying to zero in on a Peru itinerary where we stay at the Monasterio in Cusco, Sol y Luna or Posada del Inca in the Sacred Valley, the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge right at the ruins, and perhaps also visit the Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca. We want to hike the last section of the Inca Trail (day hike) - you get off the train at km 104 and hike into Machu Picchu.

It seems that the best time to visit them both on the same trip is May.

----
Leslie

Yes, May is a good time. Kind of "inbetween" seasons. I asked our guide his choice and he said May is good. November is good too for the little chicks that are everywhere. Actually each season has it rewards in the Galapagos. That will be a wonderful trip to Peru Leslie. You two do get around and do interesting things.

Ngaire -

Is NZ fixed for January 2007? We can't go in January :mecry: What periods are the season to go there?

All this talk about Machu Picchu but total ignoring of a greater and much older ruin in Peru - The Lord of Sipan ruins which are just north of Lima out of Salaverry. The ruins are not spectacular but the museum is stunning and the riches recovered are second only to those of King Tut in Egypt.

Also, Galapagos are great but don't over-do it with too many days. We had seven days and it got too repetitious. The animal life is the same or similiar on each island. Swimming with the creatures is so much fun and the tiny penguins are wonderful. They are the only warm water penguins in the world.

Machu Picchu is not to be missed and the train ride in itself is an adventure. The way the huge stones are set is unique and the view from the site is a view of God's work.

Too much "stuff" happening at one time. I dont have a list for N.Z. yet. It is VERY early.

However I have asked for an preliminary itinerary for N.Z. I know the best places to go and once that is done I will post it with a "range" of pricing (so far ahead the exchange rates and what local rates will be is an issue) Once that is out then I will take a list of names and see how it all shapes up. The best value and most fun will be to do the private plane (same kind you would use for regular scheduled air between smaller cities - just must nicer with wider leather seats). I think Tauck Tours uses this plane and this company so we will have to book early to be sure it is ours as we will be going peak season. Some may not like a prop plane. We can get a great value as a group and really have a fantastic trip this way with no waiting around airports etc. There is a lot of "travel" time if you want to see all N.Z offers and this is the way to do it. I think this is a great find.

January 07 really is the best time for N.Z. - we can move into February 07 as well. Earlier not a good idea too many kids on school holidays and places will be packed plus many dont want to be gone over the holiday season from their families. In fact I will get the date the kids go back to school in January and we wont go until they are back in school.

As to the Galapagos, I do think McKeever is right the 3 or 4 day coupled with Machu Picchu is the way to go. Some will want the 7 though as to go that far and not see all the islands is not what they will want to do. That one it is really up to whoever wants to go and when they want to go. I will go again and accompany a group if it forms but the ball is really in LCT court. You all want to go you name the dates and I will make it all work out.

Linda did both the 3 day and the 4 day and she thinks the 3 day is slightly better you do see different things so each schedule has its high points. If we do a November date definitely the 3 days so we go where we see more of the little chicks. Those that want to stay on for the next four days can do so. I suggest Machu Picchu first then the 3 day some fly home then the rest stay on for the remaining four days if they chose. If anyone wants to see the ruins McKeever is talking about they can do that before Machu Picchu. We can all do slightly different things and come together at certain points.