Value Galapagos: Budget cruising in the Enchanted Islands

The busy, chaotic port town of Guayaquil may not be the capital but it is Ecuador’s largest and most populous city. It’s also the main gateway to the Galápagos Islands, so if you find yourself with a few hours to spare on your way to or from the Enchanted Isles, it’s well worth taking a quick tour to acquaint yourself with this up-and-coming metropolis.

The Malecón 2000 welcomes strollers along a wide, oceanfront boardwalk, while the Guayas waterfront is lined with some of Guayaquil’s most important historic buildings. This leads to Santa Ana Hill, where the Spanish founded the original settlement that was to become the modern-day city of Guayaquil. It’s a picturesque old neighbourhood of wooden houses painted in bright colours, and offers the best view of the city from its tumbledown slopes. There’s also a historical park where you can see a reconstruction of 19^th century Guayaquil, with displays of typical clothing and local products.

Another attraction is the ‘Iguana Park’, home to crowds of giant iguanas that are not fazed in the slightest by human presence.

The Galápagos archipelago is an accommodating habitat for a broad range of bird species, from penguins to albatrosses and blue-footed boobies to flamingos.

While the number of individual species is not as high as many other top birding destinations, it's the high proportion of endemic varieties and the opportunity to get up close to birds with no fear of man that makes this such a special place for bird watchers.

Sea birds include the waved albatross, with a wingspan of over 2m, the flightless cormorant, pelicans, petrels, frigate birds and the blue-footed booby, with its endearing and rather comical mating dance. On land, there are Darwin's famous finches, which helped to unlock the mysteries of evolution, the Galápagos dove, Galápagos hawk and Galápagos rail among others.

If you are keen to see a particular species, you may need to plan your trip around certain islands and visit within the appropriate season – we can help you devise an itinerary.

Imagine a natural sanctuary where giant tortoises plod beside marine iguanas, while penguins and sea lions dart through an ocean brimming with tropical marine life... Welcome to the Galápagos Islands, where wildlife enjoys a fearless existence free from predators and unthreatened by man.

No matter which islands you visit, you'll see wildlife in huge numbers and from very close range – these exotic creatures are completely unfazed by your presence. You can walk among languid colonies of iguanas and sea birds, snorkel with playful sea lions and watch blue-footed boobies perform their delightful mating dance right before your eyes. Between June and October there’s even a chance of sighting humpback whales breaching beside your boat.

Each island is surprisingly different to the next, both geographically and ecologically, and we can help you choose an itinerary that visits particular habitats if you are keen to see a specific species. However the truth is that there isn't a corner of the archipelago that won't enchant wildlife lovers, and the simple privilege of sharing this unique environment with the creatures who call it home is enough to make any visit a richly rewarding experience.

This natural paradise of twisted lava and deserted beaches is a haven for endemic wildlife, offering a fascinating glimpse into the processes of natural selection that gave shape to life on Earth.

The islands' fauna enjoys an undisturbed life free from predators and unthreatened by man. No matter which islands you visit, you will be greeted with wildlife in extraordinary abundance and with no fear of your presence, making this one of the most magical places on the planet for nature lovers.

Cruises can last anywhere between 4 and 15 days, the boats we use range in size, accommodating between 12 and 100 guests. No matter what the overall group size, guided excursions on land will be small and intimate – by law tour groups on the islands can consist of no more than 16 visitors.

The daily itinerary is very similar from boat to boat, making landfall twice a day with time for snorkelling and observing the ever-enthralling theatre of natural life all around. On-board lectures cover topics from natural history and conservation to Darwin's famous voyage around the archipelago, inspiring 'On the Origin of Species'.

Exotic marine life teems within the clear waters of the Galápagos, an evolutionary melting pot where penguins swim in the same seas as tropical fish and turtles, and marine iguanas cohabit with boisterous crowds of sea lions.

You don't need to dive to experience the wonderland beneath the ocean surface. Having evolved without fear of predators, the islands' abundant fauna is undisturbed by your presence so you can get right up close to the underwater action with nothing more than a snorkel.

The Galápagos Islands owe their biodiversity to the meeting of currents from Antarctica and the tropics, creating microclimates that support a huge variety of life. Snorkelling is the easiest way to experience the unique marine environment, and is included on every Galápagos cruise.

The Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz island is a centre for research, conservation and education that aims to study and protect the 'living laboratory' that is the Galápagos.

Visitors can find out about the many endemic species of the Galápagos, their natural history, and the challenges facing conservationists in safeguarding these unique habitats. There is also a tortoise rearing house and adult giant tortoise enclosure where you can see these famous creatures in the flesh.