How fun are the Galapagos Islands? [TRIP]?

We are planning on going there,
is this a good choice?

I have traveled all over the world and the Galapagos was the most magical place I have ever visited. It's almost like you are the camera in a Discovery Channel special. Whenever you meet someone who has also been there, it's like you are all part of a family; try as you might, you can never truly explain the wonder of the place until you actually visit.

As far as cruises go, the bigger ships, while they may offer a little bit more in terms of lavish accommodations, are not what I would recommend. When we saw people getting off of them, almost all of the people were much older. One of the many great experiences we had was living on a small yacht for seven nights. We got close to all the people on board with us and had a great time. There was also a family on board who loved it.

My advice would be to really research the individual islands. Every one is different and unless you are going to be there for 2 weeks, you won't be able to see it all. For example, if you are really interested in the flightless cormorant, you will have to go to one of the western islands.

In response to Madame Gato - she is right, to a degree. The islands are suffering from polution, invasive species, overfishing, etc. However, most of the problmes are caused by those who live there. They doa terrific job, imo, with the tourists and those of us who have been there come away with a tremendous appreciation for them and are committed to educating others about the Galapagos.

yes

i was there and it was totally cool but there is lots of sea turtles and sharks but it is hot

BEAUTIFUL islands and very fun (no good surf though, so i wouldn't go there)

super my butt fun
it sucks

if you like animals go go go go go

we loved it went last yr

Go to Galapagos Islands. You can see how much fun over there. Its all about money. More you spend money more you have fun. Don't believe what other people say. Some time they misguide others. That's my experience.

An island vacation sounds good to practically everyone. But there are islands, and then there are the Enchanted Islands. With a Galapagos Island vacation, you can relax on a beautiful beach, enjoy a lavish buffet, snorkel in crystal waters, and sail on a first-class boat. Or, you can do all those things plus hang out with penguins and sea lions, giggle at a blue-footed booby, and come face to face with a three-foot-long iguana or a 600-pound tortoise.

There are travelers who want to go off the standard tours. They want to have unique experiences, learn something new, and create indelible memories, all while having the time of the their life. Better yet, they want to share these experiences with the people they love.

A Galapagos Island vacation adventure is designed for families. Traveling together allows grandparents and grandchildren in particular an opportunity to create close bonds, so often lacking in today's world where the generations may be separated by many miles. An expedition to an area so remote and so filled with fascinating natural anomalies is an enriching experience for young people and their elders alike. Far removed from video games and the Internet, nature comes to life around you!

I recommend it!

I won't begrudge you on your choice, since I don't know you... but you might consider only going there in order to help out (i.e. lending a hand to the conservation efforts), rather than as a tourist.

As it is, the Galapagos Islands are experiencing problems with the native species due to the increasing amounts of tourists and visitors... and if some of the creatures there go extinct... that's it for them.

The Galapagos Islands have been listed under UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage In Danger list for many things - including tourism and population growth of human beings on the islands.

In truth, if you're set on going, no one can tell you otherwise, but if you're really concerned with the beauty of the place and the sanctity of preserving it... you'll seek out another island paradise to visit.

Good luck!