Ecuador – Camera & Carry On

16 Photos to Get You Excited About Traveling in 2016!

Michael — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:12:08 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well it's that time again, time for resolutions and reflection. If you're reading this, there's a good chance one of your resolutions for this year is to travel more. To help you visualize this, I've searched through 10s of thousands of our photos, and found 16 of my absolute favorite panoramics that I hope will encourage you to travel in 2016! Not only are these some of our most spectacular images, but they're also from some of our most treasured destinations. From the most bustling cities, to the calm and silent, there's always something great to capture.

(Click an image to expand it larger)

Santorini, Greece

Siat, Switzerland

Machu Picchu, Peru

Bruarfoss Waterfall, Iceland

Trulli of Alberobello, Italy

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Seville, Spain

Koh Yao Yai, Thailand

Cusco, Peru

Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands

Great Wall of China

New York City

Sligo, Ireland

Mont Salève, France

Amalfi, Italy

Gruyères, Switzerland

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P I N M E !

Save this "16 Photos to Get You Excited About Traveling in 2016!" image to your Pinterest board to keep track of these awesome images, and remember where you can go, and what you can see!

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Video: Exploring the Galapagos Islands on Land & Sea

Michael — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 13:27:40 +0000

If you've heard anything about the Galapagos Islands, it's probably about the abundant variety of unique and interesting wildlife just hanging out there. From tortoises of mammoth proportions, to birds that appear to be wearing blue socks, there is certainly no shortage. Shannon and I took our cameras to the highest peaks, and the deepest seas (ok not really such extremes, but we saw a lot and and it was pretty EPIC!) to film these alluring creatures up close and personal!

For even more awesomeness from our Galapagos voyage, check out these other posts:

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A special thanks to Andean Travel Company for hosting us during our 5 day adventure aboard the Nemo I Catamaran and sponsoring this post. It was a wonderful experience we're so pleased to support. As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

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5 Things to Get Excited About in Santa Cruz, Galapagos

Shannon — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 13:34:53 +0000

You're on the island of Santa Cruz for a day, or two, or three... awaiting your big cruise adventure around the Galapagos Islands. What to do? What to see? We did the dirty work so you don't have to. A jumping point for big expeditions, most visitors will find themselves spending at least a day on the main island. So without further ado, toss the guide book and have a jolly ol' time with these 5 things to get excited about in Santa Cruz!

CANNONBAAAAALL!

SWIMMING AT LAS GRIETAS. Put on your big kid britches, grab a mask & snorkel, and jump in. Extra points for style. The walk there is a little rocky, but you'll be fine in sandals. Mind the cactus forest en route to the cavernous swim, though. Those suckers are prickly and will poke you when you're not looking. Insider tip: go when the sun is high around noon to see straight to the bottom.

Food in Stick and Scoop Form

NOURISHMENT FOR YOUR FACE. The Galapagos are kiiind of pricey. So if you're searching for a good bang for your buck, avoid the restaurants and head to the Kioskos for dinner (ask anyone and they'll point the way). Opening around 7pm nightly, the tables and chairs fill the street as vendors push menus to hungry folk. Lobster, meat sticks, soups, grilled corn - take your pick. Filling, tasty, and one of the best values you'll find. Then cool your palate with the icy stuff at the Galapagos Deli for *HANDS DOWN* some of the best ice cream anywhere. Honestly, it even rivals real, Italian gelato. Honorable Mention: Cri's Burgers dishes out humongous, belly busting burgers, sandwiches, etc. for a steal.

Make 'em say, "Cheese!"

A ZILLION CAMERA-READY ANIMALS. You've already taken 37 thousand photos and incredible video footage on land and sea, but that's why you're in the Galapagos Islands! So don't fight it. There are sea lions everywhere: sleeping, barking, swimming, playing, eating, snoring. Your SD card will be filled 3/4 of the way with sea lion photos alone, but it's because they are so darn cute. Just try to save a little room for the other creatures, too, like the ~~mini-Godzillas~~ iguanas, ~~snow-makers~~ birds, ~~crawly critters~~ crabs, and such.

Open Your Eyeballs

SMALL TOWN, BIG TOURISM (sort of). You might think the number of visitors to the Galapagos, Santa Cruz would have a bustling, touristy feel. You'd be wrong. The island as a whole remains quite undeveloped and Puerto Ayora feels very small town. Check out the boats near the pier. Stroll around the "city." See what's going on at the fish market; you'll no doubt find a sea lion or two waiting for a handout. Step in a few shops. Say hello to someone you walk by on the street. Pick up a souvenir. Admire the street art. Tip: There's a lady that sells homemade cake by the pier. Keep an extra $3.50 handy.

Don't let them take your Freeedom!

Explore the Highlands. The Galapagos ones, not the Scottish ones silly. So on second thought, lose the kilt and face paint in favor of a raincoat and boots. A departure from sunny skies and sea gulls, the highlands are home to cool stuff like lava tunnels, giant tortoises, nature hikes, lush greenery... all of those things (with the exception of the tortoises - you'll have to visit El Chato for them) can actually be found on the Royal Palm Hotel Galapagos property, boasting hundreds of acres of natural preserve. I can vouch for the villas at the Royal Palm (think: plush robes, jacuzzi tubs, crackling fireplaces, turn down service, and seclusion). Fancy pants.

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Welp, there you have it -- 5 Things to Get Excited About Santa Cruz, Galapagos. Have anything else to ad? Maybe you'd rather just do your own thing? You could forget everything I said, and still have the best time ever. That works, too.

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Galapagos Wildlife and Scenery on Land, Sea, + Air (with Animated GIFs!)

Shannon — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:07:49 +0000

You may already know a thing or two about the volcanic-formed Galapagos Islands, made famous by a certain Charles Darwin. Yep, he's the guy that wrote "The Origin of Species," developed the theory of natural selection, yada yada yada. Nodding along? If not, that's totally okay because I'd bet you can still appreciate cool photos of sea lions, boobies (the birds, you little perv), and super silly gifs, like the one of the fella in the shell proclaiming, "I'm ET, the Extraordinary Tortoise! Gnwarrrr!" I won't go into detail about how the Galapagos is one of the most unique places in the world... Like how it's home to the only lizards that swim in the ocean. Or that the climate is determined by ocean currents, also making it home to some of the most diverse sea life on the planet. Or that it was the very first UNESCO world heritage site. Seriously guys, Google knows everything. I will, however, happily share some of my favorite captures from land, sea, and air on our epic trip to the islands on the equator. In case you missed it, read all about our 4 day/5 night catamaran cruise here. We saw birds. We saw reptiles. We saw cute, furry sea lions. We saw fish, sharks, whales, sea turtles, and dolphins. There were rocks, cacti, sandy beaches, cliffs, reefs, lava tunnels, big waves, mud pits... diversity. Bam. Even more on that in this nifty video with tons of underwater footage.

••••• Have you been to the Galapagos, or do you plan to go? Did you cruise around the islands? What do you most look forward to seeing? If you've traveled there yourself, share photos & highlights from your journey in the comments below!

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ANCHORS AWEIGH! Cruising the Galapagos Islands Aboard the Nemo

Shannon — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:23:14 +0000

If you ask me, boating in the Galapagos is where it's at. The best way to experience the breadth of wildlife, action, and scenery in the Darwin-famous destination is to hit the waves. Obviously, it's one thing to read about it and another to experience it, but take my word for it; I'm an expert. To make the most of our Galapagos Islands adventure, it was anchors aweigh as we embarked on a 4 night/5 day cruise aboard the Nemo I Catamaran.

Day Trip vs. Multi-Day Adventure

When Michael and I were doing research for our trip, we considered the option of booking a few day trips and using Santa Cruz as our base. On the map, neighboring islands didn't appear so far, and we'd been successful booking day trips for island hopping on other getaways. It seemed doable enough. Wrooong!

"I'm the king of the worrrld!"said every other passenger from the bow of our CAT.

Now having been/seen for ourselves, I feel like our exposure to the islands would have been very limited with day trips. Not to mention the struggle of shopping around, negotiating price, and the general time suck of making arrangements in person. Ugh, no thanks.

The Basics of the Vessel

Some folks are really into travel by sea and flock to the big boats. J'adore la mer, but we were not keen on wrestling 100+ passengers to get a glimpse of sea lions. High capacity cruises were immediately docked from my list. The Nemo I ticked all the right boxes and had an itinerary that worked perfectly with our schedule.

Personal, low key, and quality topped my wishlist.

First impressions: bright, clean, tidy, lovely outdoor space, tight cabin, friendly captain & crew, ready to show us a good time
Capacity: 14 passengers, 6 crew members
Specs: 83 feet long, 33 feet wide, 2 150-HP engines, sails
Cabins: There are 8 cabins , mostly bunk/twin style
Common Areas: Tons of space on the hanging nets, sun terrace, dining terrace, and lounge
Additional transport: 3 solo kayaks, 1 zodiac

The Day to Day

Each morning began with an early rise and a full schedule of activities like snorkeling, hiking, and wildlife watching - led by our naturalist/guide - punctuated with plenty of time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The idea was keep everyone busy, see as much as possible, and I'm pretty sure to burn calories. Each day was unique, but basically played out something like this... (click thumbnails to open gallery) [See image gallery at www.cameraandcarryon.com] 6:15 am - wake up! 7:00 am - breakfast 8:30 am - take zodiac to shore for hike 10:00 am - deep water snorkel off zodiac 11:30 am - back on board 12:00 pm - lunch 1:30 pm - take zodiac to shore for nature trail 3:00 pm - snorkel off the shore 5:00 pm - back on board 6:30 pm - briefing of schedule 7:00 pm - dinner 8:00 pm - cruise to next location This is just a taste of the wildlife and scenery from our visit. More photos of the sea lions, sharks, iguanas, and giant tortoises (including one that looks like ET) over here.

Highlights & Favorite Bits

On a whole, I had an awesome time on the Nemo I. Being by the water is always satisfying, but this journey was extra special. A couple reasons why:

"Is there more? I'll have seconds, please."

The food was REALLY good. Not just made in a Barbie-sized kitchen on the sea good, but actually, super tasty. I expected basics and was blown away by an impressive spread 3x a day. Aaand now, my clothes are tighter. Thanks, Chef!
Whales and dolphins! I grew up in Florida, so I'm no stranger to porpoise play, but never have I ever been able to follow a pod of dolphins and humpback whales in open water. Amazing!!! Other wildlife encounters: snorkeling with whitetip reef sharks, that time a sea lion pull my kayak, and meeting a 500lb giant tortoise.
The friendly, easy going nature of the crew. Everyone was pleasant, smiling, and courteous.
Other great moments include napping on the nets, catching a few gorgeous sunsets, and embracing the salty wind in my hair. *exhale* Yes, life is good.

Good to Note

Just a few things to be aware of. Some may be obvious, but worth mentioning for clarity. Surprises for birthdays are fun, but when you're shelling out a pretty penny for travel, it's helpful to have a good picture of what you're in for!

The cabins are tiny, make no mistake about it. By design, catamarans make the most of outdoor and common square footage - which I ADORE and means there's plenty of room to spread out - but since the cabins within the hulls of the ship, they are pretty tight. If you have small space/claustrophobia issues you might want to consider one of those larger boats.
Your clothes will be damp. Even if they're "dry."

The water for our trip in August/September was around 60°F. *cue goosebumps* For those of us accustomed to swimming in bath water, a la 80°F or more, you are in for a chill. Perhaps the most disappointing part of the booking was that we had to pay extra to rent wet suits. I guess I'm not sure why they aren't part of the package to begin with.
Along that vein of chilly temps, you may want a jacket/windbreaker for the nighttime. Upside? It's much better this time of year, than during the warmer months, for seeing the greatest number creatures!
The sink/shower would allude to hot and cold settings, but there's really just one. It should read (in very tiny print): "Take a shower quick because this is not going to be pleasant."

Not your typical island getaway, or luxury cruise.

Beach towels are not available. Not a huge deal, but had I known, I probably would have tried cramming one in my carry on.
If you are prone to motion sickness, prepare accordingly... pills, wristbands, hypnosis. We both handled the rocking relatively well, until the last night; a fight to keep our cookies in check (a combination of rough water and too much sun). And make sure to consume/activate your anti-vomit goodies prior to actually feeling sick.
This is not a leisure, luxury cruise. This is for people that want to be active, get up close to nature, learn about the destination and wildlife, and see as much as possible. The naturalist guide not only goes where you go - by regulation of the natural reserve - but his/her job is to basically service as your walking encyclopedia.

What's Included

breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
basic beverages (water, hot tea, coffee, fruit juice)
snorkel equipment (mask and fins)

What's NOT Included

wet suit
sodas and alcohol
airfare to/from the Galapagos Islands
Galapagos entry and migration fees
gratuities

Pricing & Booking Info

Itineraries: 4, 5, and 8 day Pricing: $1900 per person (5 day itinerary) for 2016 (varies by high/low season and availability) Booking: Andean Travel Company web -- AndeanTC.com email -- info@andeantc.com or sales1@andeantc.com skype -- Andean-travel-company Nemo I details -- CatamaranNemo.com

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