The Tortoise and Me

You may be tempted to ride a tortoise but too bad you're not at a zoo. You do get so close to it that you can smell its breath (not sure if that's really a good thing). When going to the Galapagos, don't just stay on the main island and take day trips. You will be wasting your time and not going very far. Instead, you must board an overnight boat for at least five days and deal with the likelihood of getting seasick. A small yacht with a handful of passengers is your best bet so you won't have to fight the hordes of tourists flocking to each island. Everyday you travel from island to island in search of different species and fauna. An advantage of being on a small boat is that you and your fellow travelers can ask the guide to let you off so you can snorkel among penguins, marine iguanas, sharks, and the "dogs" of the sea (sea lions). A disadvantage is that you may be stuck on a small boat with annoying people and have nowhere to hide. You'll have to outweigh the pros and cons. To plan a trip, pick up: "The Traveler's Guide to the Galapagos" by Barry Boyce, which offers great detail on various tour companies and yachts operating in the Galapagos.