Visit Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands and keep your head in a whirl, with otherworldly scenery and incredible wildlife at every turn. Blue-footed boobies on the side, cliffs around the corner, Marine iguanas swimming – it’s hard to know where to look.
“I’m leaving here with a thousand pictures,” I said, happily snapping when we landed on South Plaza Island.
“At least 800 of them are pictures of sea lions,” laughed my Galapagos guide.
We’re only on the first island of MetroTravel’s five-day adventure, and I can already tell she’s right. Sea lions are undoubtedly cute and fun, but I know something more awaits me.
When people think of going on safari in Africa, they usually think of the Big Five (the five most famous and popular animals you will likely encounter). So, MetroTours, the longest-running tour operator in the Galapagos Islands, is taking visitors searching for the Big 15.
The Big 15 lists the region’s most unique and scientifically significant species, including a few fan favorites, such as sea lions. Metrotravel coined the term in 2016, but it’s more than just a catchy tribute to its African counterparts. With Big 15, the company not only offers guests an animal-spotting challenge to look forward to but also uses the word to educate travelers, especially when they choose which journey to embark on.
“The idea behind [Big 15] is to make sure people understand that the Galapagos Islands are very different in every way,” said Francisco Desdebes, head of corporate responsibility and sustainability at Metrotravel. “Consumers think they’re going to see everything on every trip, but that’s not the case.”
For example, a traveler looking at a particular animal can use the Big 15 section of the company’s website as a guide for choosing the proper voyage. The ever-popular Galapagos penguin, for example, is only found on north, west, and southeast trips. For those with a heart set on seeing penguins, an eastern expedition will only disappoint.
“Most consumers think it doesn’t matter where you go in the Galapagos… [But] The Big 15 has become the best catalyst for people to understand which route they should take, “Dusdebes told me as we hiked over boulders and watched a snake slide by in the Galapagos.
Introducing the “Big 15” concept has also prompted Metrotravel to make some minor adjustments to its itineraries to ensure that visitors can see most of the wildlife on the list regardless of route. Each of the four adventure routes has its unique signature element.
I was on the five-day, four-night eastern route, so I needed Galapagos penguins. However, it was the only route outside the southeast that gave travelers a glimpse of the albatross, a member of the 15 Great birds and the giant bird in the archipelago. We see young albatrosses shedding their mottled brown feathers. At the same time, their adults practice their courtship dance, tapping each other with their bright yellow beaks in a rhythmic motion that sounds like teeth chattering in the cold.
In addition to albatrosses and sea lions, our trusted guides helped us discover 11 of the 15 species, including red-footed and blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, Marine iguanas, giant tortoises and Santa Fe land iguanas.
To see all 15 attractions, you must take back-to-back expeditions on East-West routes. Fortunately, there is only one overlapping island between the two, so visitors will have plenty of new places to explore.
“Each island has its system of survival. Each island has its world.” “The more islands you see, the more you understand why the Galapagos are unique and important.”
Metropolitan travel experience
Metrotravel was part of the team that helped develop the tourism model for Galapagos National Park decades ago, and they’ve certainly perfected the visitor experience since then. Exploring the Galapagos Islands with Metropolitan Travel feels like being at the best adult summer camp, where everything is planned out, and all you have to focus on is having fun. Every day, we have morning and afternoon activities like hiking, kayaking, swimming on white sand beaches, or snorkeling with playful sea lions, reef fish, turtles, and more. Less strenuous options are also available to guests who need them.
After the event, my travel companions and I would enjoy a cup of coffee and a hot bath in the library or hang out on the deck in the sun, enjoying the view with snacks. We also enjoyed a full breakfast and an incredible three-course lunch and dinner. I always thought a smaller boat on the Galapagos was an option. However, a slightly larger boat, such as Metropolis’s 24-cabin La Pinta Yacht, meant more common areas to relax in without feeling crowded. Since the National Park limits the number of visitors who can be on the island at any one time, it also means that our yacht is full of passengers. We often enjoy our trips alone without other boats.
