An Incredible & Brave Galápagos Islands Cruise In Miami! 🚢

Our cruise through the Galápagos Islands aboard the Grand Queen Beatriz was absolutely phenomenal 🌟. The snorkeling experience was on par with my adventures in the Great Barrier Reef and Niue. On the first day (December 1st), the water was a bit cloudy, but it grew clearer each day after 🌞. We swam with sea lions and turtles, and saw countless beautiful fish 🐟. I didn’t have an underwater camera, but I highly recommend bringing one—some of the photos other passengers took were stunning . The accommodations in Quito before and after the trip were five-star—truly! ⭐🏨We were even greeted by lovely Intrepid staff at the airport, who accompanied us to and from the hotel. Since our flight from Quito to the Galápagos was early, they prepared a packed breakfast for us to enjoy at the airport ✈️. For those considering this trip, here’s some helpful info: 🛌 Navigation: We often sailed overnight, meaning journeys of up to 7 hours at a time. During this, the boat rocked quite a bit and was noisy. I loved it—it lulled me to sleep each night 😴. But others needed earplugs and motion sickness remedies (like pills, patches, or acupressure wristbands). Bring your own, as the crew can’t provide any medication. 🤿 Wetsuits: The crew fitted wetsuits for all of us. I highly recommend using them—not only do they keep you warm, but they also help with buoyancy. This made each snorkeling session (up to an hour!) totally manageable ❄️. 🎒 Wet Landings: I suggest bringing a waterproof daypack for island visits, or at least a waterproof phone case. We never got completely soaked, but waves sometimes splashed us . ☀️ Sunscreen: The sun here is as intense as in New Zealand! Bring reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 30 or 50) that’s free of harmful chemicals to protect marine life 🐠. 💵 Tipping: The crew and guides worked incredibly hard to make this trip special. Tipping at the end is an important way to acknowledge their effort. Coming from New Zealand, where tipping isn’t customary, and with a weak NZD to USD exchange rate, it felt expensive—but the crew and Roberto were worth it ❤️. Budget for this in advance. If you’re uncomfortable with tipping, reconsider whether this type of trip is for you. #Miami#GalapagosCruise #GrandQueenBeatriz #SnorkelingAdventure #EcoTravel #TravelTips #SeaTurtles #Sea Lions #IntrepidTravel #QuitoStay #AdventureAwaits 🌍