This Pete Oxford Expeditions to Galapagos with Pete Oxford and Reneé Bish and our intrepid band of travelers transcended even my highest expectations. Thanks to Pete and Reneé, their thoughtfulness in understanding our group and attention to everyone's interests, we became a tight group, full of laughs, broad smiles and wonder at all our close encounters with the natural world. Galapagos remains a unique national park in all the world and I can't think of 2 better guides to open insights into this world than Pete and Renee. Their deep commitment to conservation and years of experience on the islands provide a rich and inspiring entry into the world of seabird colonies, fish, sea animals and differences in habitat from island to island. But mostly, they are FUN and this enthusiasm is contagious! The Mary Ann was a stunning boat to call home with a merry band of strangers who quickly became fast friends. We were on the go making the most of every opportunity that showed itself, exceptional encounters with sunfish, white tip sharks and eagle rays, turtles galore, exquisite gliding flights of albatross, it goes on and on...but the best part was sharing with each other. I have a very deep and special gratitude for my shipmates and among all the treasures on land and sea, most treasured are new found friends.

If you are considering a wildlife tour anywhere in the world, book with Pete Oxford Expeditions and guides Pete Oxford and Reneé Bish. Your appreciation for our beautiful, fragile and complex world will expand ten-fold and you will feel the passion.

If you want to go somewhere – do it with Pete and Renee. Their knowledge, sense of fun and unending enthusiasm was boundless. I WAS frightened of boats but the feeling of safety with Pete Oxford Expeditions is total. Renee and Pete raise the bar on every level. The Mary Anne was gorgeous, food excellent, staff always helpful but not intrusive. We all felt as if we were at home. As our guide Fernando used to say on our excursions "Come on family" – and at the end of two weeks we were.

Pete Oxford Expeditions know the Galapagos intimately so every detail has been planned and refined through experience. This is no trip for slackers – if you want to see it all and have fun from sun rise to sun set – go with Pete Oxford Expeditions.

Pete and Renee's lifetime knowledge of worldwide conservation informs everything Pete Oxford Expeditions does. We learnt so much and left with more passion and knowledge about our delicate natural world.

Thank you both – a fabulous time.

I could go on and on and on... Going to the Galapagos was on our wishlist and we booked with Pete Oxford Expeditions 18 months in advance (you have to get in early if you want to travel with Pete Oxford Expeditions) so we have been looking forward to this trip for a long time. It lived up to our expectations and more. Pete and Renee are a truly fantastic team. Pete got us up and out by 06:00 most mornings thus avoiding the heat and seeing everything in the best light and being the first on every island was always Pete's plan! Renee's attention to detail was impeccable. She supplied extra hats, snorkeling kit, sun cream after sun cream (everything we had forgotten) and lots of TLC – we wanted for nothing. Their knowledge of the Galapagos, and that of our guide Fernando, was encyclopedic. They both spent a lot of time with our 4 teenage daughters explaining the history, geology and conservation of the Galapagos. Their love of these islands is undoubted. The photographers in the group got some incredible advice from Pete – the best photographic course I've ever been on and I have fantastic photos of sea lions, dolphins, iguana, all the birds, sharks and whales to prove this!!!

As I started, I could go on and on and on but truly suggest you see for yourself – just make sure you book with Pete Oxford Expeditions if you want that unforgettable trip.

Where do I even start to describe how incredible this trip was...? When I say it was the trip of a lifetime I honestly mean that. Having booked it two years in advance our excitement had been mounting to such high levels that we were almost convinced that no trip could live up to our excitement, well these two weeks exceeded it a hundred times over. Pete and Renee ensured that we had the best time we possibly could, from living on the most beautiful and envied boat on the water to ensuring such a wonderful, fun group of people, Renee providing numerous crucial items we had forgotten to pack whilst making sure every one of us were looking after ourselves properly, and Pete helping so much to improve (some of our!) basic photography skills. Their ceaseless enthusiasm for everything and anything we saw was infectious and their completely genuine excitement to show and share with us all these amazing sights and animals and make sure we knew that ‘you don’t see that everyday’ was just so great and made sure that every single moment was exciting, there was always something new to experience.

Their choice of guide, Fernando, was so wonderful and their combined knowledge of absolutely everything and anything to do with not only the Galapagos but just about any animal, peoples or place was astounding. I don’t think we managed to find a single question that they couldn’t answer, usually with a bonus story.

And of course they are just the loveliest people, along with our perfect group of people I honestly don’t think I will ever have another trip that could compare and can 100% say that no other expedition leaders could ever come close – we will just have to visit somewhere else with them as they make the experience so incredible. Pete and Renee have inspired me more than they will know and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. Thank you so much, I miss it all but will never forget it, it was so so special.

This is not a pretend holiday, this is not a pin on the map destination, this is the REAL DEAL. We have been lucky enough to visit many parts of our planet where our itinerary has been planned for us by experts and we have come back with a lifetime of memories. So if I tell you this blows them out the water I don't care if you don't believe me but at the end of your bucket list you will only have yourself to blame.

Because of the magic Renee and Pete sprinkled in choosing who comes on this trip (we had to wait two years) we have made lifelong friends of our co-adventurers. I feel I should end here because if you don't get it now you never will.