Unbelievable, spectacular and once in a lifetime are the best ways I can sum up my recent trip to the Galapagos. The group I traveled with went in mid-January during the peak of the resurgent Covid pandemic which made getting things organized very challenging. Pete Oxford Expeditions was able to help organize things in a way that made everything doable. From the moment we landed in Ecuador to when we left things couldn’t have been better. Upon arrival in the Galapagos, we transferred to our vessel, the beautiful 3 masted sailing boat Mary Anne. We spent the duration of our weeklong trip on board. The accommodations were wonderful, but I will preface that by saying I was usually asleep within minutes of retiring every evening and we were out on adventures every day from sunrise to sunset. I can’t give enough credit to Pete Oxford and Colette for the terrific job they did getting us all onto shore at sunrise and out snorkeling during the day. We saw so many wonderful things during the early morning hours, such as sea turtles laying eggs, it made getting up so early easier. We were always the first ones on the islands and were usually leaving when the other boats would arrive. We typically did 2 hikes a day, one at sunrise and one at sunset and 2 snorkel trips a day. The marine life is breathtaking. Sea rays, sea turtles, Hammerhead sharks, White tip sharks, colorful Moray eels, octopus, penguins, sea lions, iguanas, Cormorants and, of course, the Blue-Footed Booby. The thing that makes this all so spectacular is the wildlife is unafraid of humans. The huge tortoises are something to behold as are the land iguanas. We also had the opportunity to see an active volcanic eruption when we were there. I will never forget this trip. I want to give a huge thank you to Pete Oxford, Colette, the captain and crew of the Mary Anne and the staff of Pete Oxford expeditions.

It is hard to capture how truly amazing the January 2022 trip to the Galápagos Islands was. To be able to escape the current world craziness for a trip that was exciting, fun, and educational was a privilege. Though the itinerary sounded daunting, I quickly came to see how well thought out the plan was; not only maximizing our experience but to do so with our comfort in mind. Early landings and hikes assured that we not only saw some amazing sites (turtles burying eggs) but did so before the full heat of the day. The snorkels just before and after lunch put us in the water at the hottest time of the day, plus maximized the sunlight to aid in seeing the incredible underwater sites (fish, turtles, seals, penguins, cormorants, marine iguanas munching away, octopi, eels, rays and sharks!). The late afternoon hikes again afforded a visit to yet another island, bay etc.
The accommodations on the boat were comfortable, the food abundant and terrific in taste and variety, and the crew friendly and helpful.
We had a fun equator crossing experience and I had a special birthday surprise, complete with erupting volcano.
But best of all our leader Pete Oxford and guide Colette, could not disguise their unbridled enthusiasm and love for this very special place and it’s amazingly unique inhabitants. This was infectious in the best sense of the word. Since I’ve been home I’ve continued reading about the Islands, shared my stories and pictures, and have enjoyed moments recapturing that incredible sense of adventure and discovery.

I had heard two things before our Galapagos trip: 1) the Galapagos is a once in a lifetime trip and 2) Pete Oxford leads amazing trips. I wasn't sure why there was so much hype, but now I get it! It's well deserved. We had planned this private group trip before the latest wave of Covid, but our trip ended up being right during the height of it, which was a logistical challenge. Pete and Renee navigated us through all the additional challenges of testing and safety protocols. The trip itself was amazing - Galapagos is a magical place - every day there were so many highlights it was tough to remember them all: getting brushed by stingrays, swimming with penguins, sea lions, turtles and octopus, views of an erupting volcano over dinner... we are still talking about all the phenomenal things we experienced. I know we got the most out of the Galapagos - we were the first and only people on the islands at 6am at the magic hour, and the last ones off + two snorkels a day. Looking at other itineraries, it's clear we did twice as much. The passion and knowledge that Pete and Colette have for the Galapagos sparks everyone else's enthusiasm. This trip is the real deal - the majestic sail boat isn't the most luxurious cruiser, but it is unique and cooler than that. I can't wait to travel with Pete again! This trip has even changed my life - I'm planning on waking up at 4:30 from now on too 🙂

Thank you Pete and Renee for a life changing excursion in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Your passion for the animals and birds is contagious and we all came away with a new love for earth’s creatures and its varying ecosystems. The trip was so well planned and executed and the staff at the camps so welcoming that it was very easy for me to sit back and enjoy the two weeks of safari. I am sad to have left my new friends in South Africa and hope another trip can be arranged somewhere in this fascinating world.

Going on Safari with Pete and Renee is a once in a lifetime experience. They are extremely knowledgeable, energetic, fun and well organized- especially given the complications Covid presented. I had no idea what to expect but never thought I would be safely close to so many majestic animals. The birders in our group were over the moon seeing almost 250 species of birds. Accommodations at the camps were five star- plunge pools, gourmet meals and wonderful staff and guides. This is our family's third trip with POE and we will be back for another adventure in the future. A+++