Travelore Tips: What Your Family Should Know Before Booking A Galapagos Cruise

AdventureSmith Explorations’ Todd Smith
Offers Advice for Families 
Considering Cruising the Galapagos on a Small Ship

Todd Smith wears many hats. For starters, he’s a dad, and during the work week, he’s the visionary force and face behind AdventureSmith Explorations, the small ship cruise experts (http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/).

These two hats alone make him a compendium of knowledge when it comes to cruising with young families. Following are his tips for nature-loving families who may be considering a trip-of-a-lifetime small ship cruise in the Galapagos Islands.

• Consider if a cruise is family-focused or simply family-friendly.
• Don’t expect child discounts on cruises offering quality experiences for families or cruise departures over popular holiday periods.
• Be flexible as to travel dates if mingling with other families is a priority.
• Plan to arrive in Ecuador minimally 48 hours before the cruise departure to allow for flight delays and weather.
• Kids age six and older will enjoy family cruises to the Galapagos Islands. Keep in mind that there are no babysitting services aboard small ships. 

“Not all family cruises are the same,” said Smith. “Family-focused cruises create an environment for multi generations to interact with each other, young and old experiencing and enjoying life together on the ship and on-shore. These cruises usually are offered over school holidays and in the summer and most likely include other families with children similar in age.”

Check out his full blog post and story on family travel in the Galapagos at: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/galapagos-family-cruises-1

Are family-focused cruises parent and youth centric?

“Yes, and with great results,” Smith said. “Young and old alike will be clamoring for the latest reports from a youthful birder, or encouraging a teenager trying out his fledgling language skills on someone else’s grandfather who speaks only Spanish.  As age boundaries disappear, enjoyment levels increase.”

Smith suggests these questions to ask when choosing a family-focused cruise:

• Are guides and crew are trained to work with younger travelers?
• What are some of the family bonding activities offered?
• Are menus and meal times designed with younger travelers in mind?
• Will children of similar ages be traveling on the same cruise? 

AdventureSmith Explorations’ choices for top family-focus cruises in the Galapagos include:

• Eric/Letty/Flamingo http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/eric-letty-flamingo-galapagos-cruises
• Eclipse http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/eclipse-galapagos-cruises
• Evolution http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/evolution-galapagos-cruises 

Family-friendly cruises usually offer children’s menus and entertainment but aren’t as youth-centric as family-focused cruises. Smith’s recommendations for family-friendly cruises include those offered by National Geographic, “a perfect blend of activity and education with onboard experts.” The expedition leaders and naturalist staff aboard the 48 guest Islander and 96 guestEndeavour are tops in their field. This cruise is perfect for families willing to pay a premium for National Geographic leadership resulting in an intellectual and educational experience.

“On any cruise you select, remember that most of children today are wired in to their worlds at home. To help them disconnect and focus on where they are, photography and travel journals are ways they can record their experiences and collect material for show and tell and class work down the road. It is important to be sure each child has a camera,” said Smith.

Some clients prefer to travel just with their own family and friends. In these instances he suggests arranging a private family charter for a minimum of 12 and up to 100 people. The same professional level of staff and guide services are secured for charter cruises as are provided on departures open to the public.

For more information, cruise options, availability and 2015-2016 reservations, Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com.

About AdventureSmith Explorations
Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA, along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. Today they are considered the global leader in small ship, expeditionary cruise vacations. In 2014 Smith was elected to the board of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association(IGTOA), a nonprofit association of travel companies, conservation organizations and other groups that are dedicated to the complete and lasting protection of the Galapagos. Their mission is to preserve the Galapagos Islands as a unique and priceless world heritage that will provide enjoyment, education, adventure and inspiration to present and future generations of travelers.

Follow AdventureSmith Explorations:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AdventureSmithExplorations
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adventuresmith
Website: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/

Top 10 Family Destinations For 2015 Named

Journeys International, the first adventure travel company to offer trips designed specifically for families, announced today the top 10 family destinations for 2015:

• Costa Rica
• Peru
• Panama
• China
• Japan
• Thailand
• Tanzania
• South Africa
• Galapagos (Ecuador)
• Indonesia

“Firsthand research, feedback from our clients, and the expert knowledge of our on-the-ground guides indicate that these 10 destinations offer the very best opportunities for family travelers in 2015,” said Robin Weber Pollak, President of Journeys International. “These countries provide unique, safe, hands-on culture and wildlife experiences that will engage explorers of any age.”

From Brazil To Borneo - Wild Planet Adventures Reveals Five Wildlife Travel Secrets You Must Know For 2015

 
Five-time National Geographic Traveler magazine “world’s best” award winner, Wild Planet Adventures (http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/) is ahead of the curve when it comes to knowing when and where to encounter the world’s most extraordinary creatures. The experts who view wildlife through habitat-sustaining practices share five wildlife travel secrets from Brazil to Borneo that every nature-loving traveler should know for 2015.
 
The top five upcoming destinations for wildlife enthusiasts for 2015 include Brazil, Borneo, India, Thailand and Zambia. Over the last year, each of these countries has triumphed over a challenge, undergone a shift or revealed a special secret relevant to wildlife travel according to Josh Cohen, founder of Wild Planet Adventures and his global staff of wildlife experts. For the complete article seehttp://www.wildplanetadventures.com/post-detail?detail=5-wildlife-travel-secrets-you-must-know-for-2015. Below are the highlights:
 
1) India’s Remote Assam Region: #1 Up & Coming Wildlife Destination for 2015 – In India’s northeast, the Assam region (between Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet and China) is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines encompassing two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the national parks of Manas and Kaziranga.
 
The secret, says wildlife expert Cohen: “Kaziranga’s huge concentrations of game rivals many parks in Africa. On safari here it’s typical to see over 40 Rhino, several herds of wild Elephant, up to 500 Ungulate and perhaps even a Tiger, all in your field of vision at once!”  With Wild Planet’s sustainable protocols, guests track Tigers by listening to warning cries, looking for pug marks and tracking kills, “which creates a more authentic, exciting and participatory wildlife safari experience.”  For trip details see: http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/destinations/?country=india
 
2) Brazil – The #1 Hot Travel Destination for 2015 – The World Cup and Olympic exposure have catapulted Brazil to the top of Wild Planet Adventure’s list of MOST popular destinations for 2015. The combination of safaris to spot Jaguar in the Pantanal (averaging nearly two sightings per day) with the wonders of the Amazon have created unprecedented demand. Many of fazienda (horse-ranch lodges) in the Pantanal report they are already nearly sold out for the 2015 season.
 
The secret? “Interested travelers MUST make their reservations now for the 2015 peak jaguar viewing season that starts in early July and continues through the end of October,” says Cohen. Wild Planet’s itinerary also includes a Primate Program designed by a primatologist to view rare primates in the Amazon, plus options for Iguassu Falls, Rio and more. For trip details see:http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/destinations/?country=brazil
 
3) Thailand’s Secret Wildlife Sanctuaries Bordering Myanmar Are Now Open to US Travelers – The secret is that Wild Planet Adventures is the only US operator bringing guests to Kaeng Krachan National Park and Klong Seang Wildlife Sanctuary, the two best national parks in Thailand for exotic wildlife encounters. Kaeng Krachan is the largest and least visited national park in Thailand, with the most volume of wildlife of any park in the region. Nestled up against the remote mountains at Myanmar’s border, safaris in Kaeng Krachan are done by 4WD Jeep and by foot, both day and night. The park is home to Tiger, Black Leopard, Wild Elephant, Asiatic Black Bear, Gibbon, Langur, Slow Loris, six species of Hornbill and more. Klong Seang is a wildlife sanctuary on the far northeast corner of a 185 sq. km. lake, where Cohen’s team brings guests by long-tail boat and kayak (for silent approach to the animals) from their base at a spectacular floating aqua-lodge. Klong Seang is known for its healthy populations of Guar and is home to the extremely rare Clouded Leopard as well as Wild Boar, Wild Elephant, Monitor Lizard, and other animals. Most travelers combine these parks with a few days of culture and an elephant camp in Chiang Mai and end their trip with snorkeling on Thailand’s best islands. For trip details see:http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/destinations/?country=thailand&trip=hidden-thailand-14-day-eco-tour
 
4) Borneo –2014 May Have Been the Year We Saved the Most Human of All Primates – The demand for palm oil (in roughly 60 percent of all goods on today’s supermarket shelves) has brought to near extinction Borneo’s population of Orangutan, the “holy grail” for wildlife travelers.
 
However, the secret is that, “In 2014 manufacturers responsible for producing nearly 60% of the world’s palm oil pledged to use responsible forest-friendly practices. This is a major breakthrough that will help preserve what’s left of the critically threatened habitat for endangered wild Orangutan populations.”
 
In Cohen’s experience, “There is not another animal alive more capable of creating the magical connection between traveler and wild animal than the Orangutan. It’s what wildlife lovers dream of. That’s not surprising, considering this great ape is one of humankind’s closest relatives, sharing 97% of our DNA. They are born with the ability to reason and think and considered to be one of the smartest mammals on Earth. Nevertheless, many travelers are completely unprepared for just how deeply touched they are by Orangutan displays of love, nurturing young, playfulness and courtship.”
 
The majority of visitors to Borneo only see Orangutan at rescue centers; however Wild Planet specializes in authentic expeditions to see these great apes in the wild, as well as Borneo’s other exotic wildlife including the Proboscis Monkey, Bornean Gibbon, Pygmy Elephant, Tarsier and Slow Loris. One of the world’s top five dive locations, the Sipadan reef in the Celebes Sea, is a must-see ending for any trip to Borneo. See:http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/destinations/?country=borneo&trip=weird-wonderful-wildlife-12-day-borneo
 
5) Zambia Is the Prime Destination for African Safaris Due to its Safety from Ebola – Demand for African safaris exploded in 2014 to an all-time high. However, the recent Ebola crises took wind out of the safari sails.
 
The secret: “While fewer people are traveling to Africa for safari because of the Ebola fear, Zambia is 100% clear of the crisis and located 5,300km from the nearest Ebola outbreak; flights to Zambia do not stop in Ebola affected zones and Zambia was one of the first countries to ban travelers from affected areas in order to protect its safari economy,” says Cohen. “Zambia couldn’t be more safe.”
 
Zambia’s remoteness and multitude of eco-systems also offer significant advantages over more commercial safaris in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania or other Africa countries.  It’s the birthplace of the walking safari and home to Africa’s best canoe safari (on the Zambezi River at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mana Pools). Wild Planet offers a multitude of award-winning Zambia safari options including walking, canoeing and jeep safaris with legendary master guides. See:http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/destinations/?country=zambia
 
For detail tour itineraries, availability and booking information, call toll-free 1.800.990.4376, visit http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/ or contacttrips@wildplanetadventures.com.

About Wild Planet Adventures
The expert wildlife guides of Wild Planet Adventures go the extra mile to explore remote wildlife habitat and study wildlife patterns in destinations not often accessible to the general public. Thanks to the company’s comprehensive itineraries that balance diverse and complex ecosystems and habitats, guests enjoy wildlife and game viewing that is carefully aligned with animals’ seasonal, daily and nocturnal migrations.
 
Following a philosophy that interacting with nature has the power to transform lives, tours are conducted in Africa, Borneo, Brazil, Costa Rica, Galapagos, India, Laos, Nepal, Panama, Peru, Thailand and Zambia. 

Small Ship Cruises And Adventurous Land Packages Still Available For Year-End Holidays - But Selling Fast

 Suddenly it’s late summer with 2014 Holiday travel only months away. 

AdventureSmith Explorations that offers both sea and land excursions year-round reports that plans can still be made with them for prime holiday season December 2014 and early January 2015 escapes.

“But don’t wait too long,” said Todd Smith, founder/owner of AdventureSmith Explorationsthat specializes in small-ship expedition cruising that allows gusts to get up close and personal with the environments and landscapes they travel far to see.

Opportunities still available for Holiday cruises include the following destinations: Amazon, Antarctica, Australia, Baja (Mexico), Chile/Patagonia, Costa Rica, Panama Canal, Galapagos and Hawaii.

For example, Hawaii Christmas CruisesHawaiian Seascapes Dec. 20-27, Dec. 27-Jan. 3, Jan. 3-10 on the 36-passenger Safari Explorer yacht lets guests explore four islands. This active itinerary includes time for snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, touring local farms and museums, and even night snorkeling. The 8-day cruise is from $3,595 per person double.

There are two Baja, Mexico, Christmas Cruises. The first is Wild Islands & Treasures of Baja Dec. 20-27, Dec. 27-Jan. 3 on the 62-guest National Geographic Sea Bird. This expedition unites its twin facets: culture and wildness. Guests explore pristine desert islands, rife with endemic species, rare plants and towering forests of cacti, and spot Humpback whales migrating in the Sea of Cortez. The 8-day cruise is from $5,690 per person double.

Cousteau’s Aquarium of the World Dec. 20-27, Dec. 27-Jan. 3 uncovers the area of Dabo Pulmo where French Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau led numerous expeditions in a setting of steep bluffs and sandy beaches. This Baja expedition through marine-life-rich waters aboard the 84-guest Safari Endeavour offers opportunities to snorkel among gentle whale sharks and sea lion pups, and explore the desert landscape explored by Cousteau. The per person rate for 8 days is from $3,395.

Baja, Costa Rica, Chile/Patagonia, Guatemala, Panama and Peru offer opportunities for both pre-set and on-request land departures that may also include itineraries suited to families. These combine hiking through rainforests, sourcing indigenous wildlife, sometimes whitewater rafting and explorations of archaeology, culture and history.

For example in Peru, the Peru Mountain Lodge Trek Dec. 20-26, Dec. 21-27 Dec. 24-30 Dec. 27-Jan. 2 is the very first trans-Andean lodge-to-lodge trek to one of the ancient world's most extraordinary sanctuaries: Machu Picchu. After full days of trekking, guests spend evenings unwinding by the fireplace, stargazing and enjoying a comfortable lodge. The 7-day program is from $3,489 per person double.

Costa Rica Christmas Tours, Quest for Pura Vida Dec. 20-28, Dec. 27-Jan. 4, combines the cloud forests of Monteverde and the active Arenal Volcano with the verdant lowland tropical forests of Tortuguero to highlight Costa Rica's diversity of nature and culture. This 9-day program combining mountains, rainforest and the Caribbean is from $2,700 per person double.

About AdventureSmith Explorations
Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA, along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. In 2012, owner Todd Smith joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious 14th Annual Travel Specialists List as the world’s expert on small ship expeditions. A distinction he received again in 2013. For information, availability and 2014 reservations, Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or visitwww.adventuresmithexplorations.com.

Follow AdventureSmith Explorations:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AdventureSmithExplorations
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adventuresmith
Website: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/

Galapagos Small-Ship Cruise Operator, Ecoventura, To Launch the Islands’ Newest Premium Class Vessel

 
 Ecoventura (http://www.ecoventura.com) that operates an environmentally friendly fleet of small expedition yachts in the Galapagos Islands plans to debut the region’s newest ship in early 2016.
 
While construction of the new motor vessel is underway at the shipyard in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Ecoventura is now taking bookings for MV Origin’sinaugural cruise Jan. 3, 2016. When launched she will be the newest and most comfortable 20-passenger yacht operating in Galapagos. The vessel will be owned by Ecoventura, a leader in social and environmental responsibility with over two decades of experience in sustainable tourism.
 
Ecoventura founder and owner Santiago Dunn has a vision for his company’s newest addition.
 
“We are exploring ways to make the Origin the most comfortable and environmentally efficient yacht in Galapagos. Our first goal is to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 45 percent (from 1800 gallons to 1000 gallons per week),” he explains. “This is no simple achievement when you consider our plans to sail at 12 knots on two engines so that guests can spend as much time as possible at each visitor site.”
 
MV Origin, designed for guests with a highly evolved lifestyle, will combine modern sophistication and a high level of comfort and service, with quality guided land excursions in small groups, gastronomical experiences, exciting physical activities and a dose of intellectual science for a life enriching experience. A veteran crew supervised by a master-level captain, two expert naturalist guides and a concierge will be at the beck and call of guests. Social areas offer private moments on board with a library, boutique, computer station, lounge areas, dining room, bar, Jacuzzi, sun deck, recliners and wet bar.  See: http://www.origingalapagos.com/index.php/gallery/social-areas
 
Guests aboard Origin will enjoy locally sourced, healthy, gourmet-style menus designed by top local chefs and creatively prepared by Ecoventura’s culinary school trained chefs. Some lunches will be served al fresco on deck. Passengers will have an open bar policy, including wine and local beer. See: http://www.ecoventura.com/galapagos-yachts/our-cuisine/
 
The vessel will feature 10 deluxe staterooms all located on the main deck with panoramic windows and private bathroom. Each stateroom is 140 square feet, with two twin beds that convert to a king, two connecting cabins, two triples, fine linens, bathrobes, satellite TV, and more.
See: http://www.origingalapagos.com/index.php/gallery/staterooms
 
Guests wishing to stay in shape will enjoy a fitness center with cardio equipment. The services of a professional masseuse can also be arranged at an additional charge on private charters only. Twice daily cabin cleanings are provided. Laundry service is also available. Guide lectures, cooking demonstrations and yoga will be part of the on-ship fun. See:http://www.origingalapagos.com/index.php/decks
 
Ecoventura’s Director of Sales & Marketing, Doris Welsh, explained that MV Origin rates reflecting a premium class vessel will be higher than those on its three existing first class vessels, the Eric, Flamingo and Letty.  A per person double rate for an eight-day all-inclusive cruise will be $6,500. Rates include cabin accommodation, all meals and snacks, all beverages including open bar, Captain’s welcome and farewell party, guided shore excursions, services of a concierge, use of wet suits, snorkelling equipment, stand-up paddle boards and sea kayaks, and transfers in the islands between the airport and dock.
See: http://www.origingalapagos.com/index.php/departures
 
There are two distinct itineraries on weekly (Sundays), year-round departures from the island of San Cristobal. The tours visit the most spectacular visitor sites of the archipelago; western/northern and central/southern.
See: http://www.origingalapagos.com/index.php/itineraries
 
About Ecoventura
Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard its fleet of at present three identical, 20-passenger first-class motor yachts, Eric, Flamingo and Letty, and the 16-passenger luxury dive live-aboard the MV Galapagos Sky. Departures are every Sunday from San Cristobal offering two unique seven-night itineraries.
 
To reserve a cabin or private charter, or to receive a copy of Ecoventura’s catalog please call toll-free 1.800.633.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com. To access current rates, schedules and itineraries log on to http://www.ecoventura.com/.

Where To Find The Best Marine Encounters

Dive in and get up close and personal with the planet’s fascinating array of marine creatures. This article is adapted from Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Adventures.

Floating fly-bys with manta rays, Fiji

The Pacific nation of Fiji is exceedingly laid back, but after swimming with manta rays with wingspans of up to five metres it’s quite OK for visitors to the Yasawa islands to be more than a little excited. Nature’s largest rays – reputedly the inspiration for the iconic shape of the stealth bomber – move with surprising speed through the tropical waters. Their underwater action is almost bird-like, with wingtips propelling them gracefully and purposefully. Keeping up with them isn’t easy, so boat trips deliver swimmers in front of where the rays are heading. Time it right and you can get very close.

Go: From April to October, manta rays congregate in the feeding channels around Naviti Island and Drawaqa Island in Fiji’s Yasawa group. Contact www.barefootislandfiji.com.

Swimming with dolphins, New Zealand

Pin this imageHector's Dolphin by Harald Selke. Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike Licence.

Yes, it can be a long journey to New Zealand but when the reward is swimming with the world’s smallest and rarest dolphin, it’s a trip worth taking. The Hector’s dolphin is only found in New Zealand waters and stunning Akaroa harbour is the location for regular tours. The harbour is the flooded crater of an extinct volcano, so the dolphin experience often takes place in sheltered waters framed by spectacular volcanic cliffs. If you’re keen to experience more Southern Hemisphere marine thrills on New Zealand’s South Island, also make time for sea kayaking around Akaroa’s quiet bays.

Go: Go overboard with Hector’s dolphins from October to April; see Black Cat Cruises (www.blackcat.co.nz). If you’re there in October, don’t miss the biannual French Fest celebrating Akaroa’s Gallic heritage.

Communing with tuna, South Australia

How do you like your tuna? Lightly seared with a soy, ginger and lime sauce or plated gracefully as gossamer-thin layers of sashimi? How about speeding past your face underwater at 70km per hour? Swimming with fish in Port Lincoln’s tuna farms is akin to crossing a busy street in a big Asian city. Like traffic in Hanoi or Bangkok, the fishy commotion effortlessly parts and the sleek beasties divert carefully around swimmers without actually touching. Some tuna weigh up to 150kg and a steady supply of pilchards keeps them eating and moving so the water is almost white water, roiling with a restless energy from their smoky-black piscine muscularity.

Go: See www.swimwiththetuna.com.au. Go tuna crazy at Port Lincoln’s annual Tunarama Festival (www.tunarama.net) around Australia Day weekend every January.

Splash out with sea lions, South Australia

Pin this imageAustralian sea lions by caccamo.Creative Commons Attribution Licence.

Say g’day – with a broad Aussie accent – to some of the most curious and playful creatures in the Great Australian Bight. Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience has been visiting sea lions since 1992; tours also include swimming with dolphins. The surrounding waters are shark territory but interactions with the sea lions take place in safe and shallow rock pools around the coast, making this an ideal experience for families. Wetsuits are provided but bring along an underwater camera for surprising sea lion portraits.

Go: Exciting sea lion adventures can be undertaken year round in Baird Bay; see www.bairdbay.com. Visit in summer to see the stunning Eyre Peninsula at its best.

Hanging out with whale sharks, Western Australia

If Western Australia were a separate country it would be the world’s tenth-largest nation, so it’s appropriate the ocean’s largest fish chooses to drop by the World Heritage–listed Ningaloo Marine Park each year. These gentle giants of the sea – up to 10m long – return for seasonal feeding in the Indian Ocean’s nutrient-rich waters. Snorkelling with the creatures, you quickly segue from anxious to blissful. The worryingly familiar profile of a shark, only much larger than expected, emerges from Ningaloo’s sun-dappled depths but the huge creatures drift innocuously past, their expansive mouths hoovering up nutritious coral spawn.

Go: Whale sharks return to Ningaloo Marine Park from April to July. From June to November manta rays and humpback whales also swing by.

Peaceful drifting with jellyfish, Palau

Pin this imageClose-up of jellyfish in Palau by Stephen Master.Creative Commons Attribution Licence.

Palau’s jellyfish lake – Ongeim’l Tketau in the local language – is less than six hectares (14 acres) in area but that’s still enough to accommodate around 10 million jellyfish. The lake’s population of endemic golden jellyfish actually waxes and wanes – 31 million were estimated to be in the forest-clad waters in 2005. Every day the jellyfish follow the sun to make a 1km migration across the lake and a lack of natural predators means they have evolved without being poisonous. Recommended form for swimmers is to drift languidly in the water, reducing the potential to damage the delicate creatures.

Go: Get jiggy with jellyfish from December to April, avoiding Palau’s rainy season from May to December and the possibility of typhoons from July to October.

Exploring the deep blue with humpback whales, Niue

Defiantly alone in the planet’s biggest ocean, the Pacific island of Niue (population 1400) is the world’s smallest self-governing nation. But despite the compact isle’s remote and rocky isolation, humpback whales are regular return visitors from their nutrient-rich feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean. Dropping carefully into the waters above them is a humbling experience. Newly born calves nestle close to their leviathan mothers in shallow waters just fifty metres off Niue’s cave-studded coastline. Diffuse Pacific sunlight refracts through crystalline waters to project whale-shaped shadows on the ocean floor, and languid flicks of their giant tails propel them slowly and silently through the sea.

Go: Humpback whales calve in Niue’s warm and clear waters from June to October. Book a snorkelling trip with Niue Dive (www.dive.nu).

Snorkelling with manatees, Florida

Pin this imageFlorida manatee by USFWS.Creative Commons Attribution Licence.

Even a manatee gets chilly in Florida, especially during winter. That’s why the warm springs of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge are such an important habitat for the West Indian manatee. More than 30 natural springs create a consistent temperature of 22ºC (72ºF), comfortably tepid to support the survival of this endangered species. Manatees aren’t too keen on the bubbles from scuba tanks so a leisurely snorkelling trip is the best option for interaction. A wetsuit is also recommended – the water’s warm, but not that warm – and the manatees are surprisingly curious and social.

Go: Visit from mid-October to mid-March when up to 400 manatees crowd around warmer underwater springs during winter cold snaps. See Birds Underwater Inc (www.birdsunderwater.com).

Diving with fur seals, New Zealand

Near the South Island coastal town of Kaikoura, a playground for New Zealand fur seals is concealed in the knotty tangle of kelp surrounding Barney’s Rock. Adolescent seals spin, dive, and lay back amidst this labyrinthine marine forest but it’s the younger seals that seem most interested in the wetsuited interlopers floating amongst them. Curious pups sweep recklessly towards swimmers, make underwater eye contact and then dart playfully away into an inky darkness broken by occasional beams of light. Older seals laze in the sun on the rocks above, throwing an occasional languid glance towards the energetic marine nursery below.

Go: Book with Seal Swim Kaikoura (www. sealswimkaikoura.co.nz) from October to May. Kaikoura is also a good spot to tuck into local kai moana (seafood) including crayfish.

Paddling with penguins, Galapagos Islands

Pin this imageGalapagos Penguins by Dallas Krentzel.Creative Commons Attribution Licence.

It’s around Isla Bartoleme’s crescent-shaped beach where the true diversity of the Galapagos Islands is brought home. Equipped only with snorkelling gear, you can encounter many species on their own terms in the water. Harmless reef sharks mingle with flightless cormorants and curious sea lions, and Humboldt penguins zip past in the crystalline depths, celebrating an equatorial environment that’s only possible because of the cool waters of the Humboldt current. Awkward on land, they’re entirely different creatures after sliding their plump but sleek bodies into the water, where clumsy Chaplin-esque shuffling is replaced with effortless underwater action.

Go: Visit from June to November, when the cooler Humboldt Current flows north from Antarctica to enrich the ocean with nutrients and increase marine life.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/77800#ixzz37MAFK2Yn

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport