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Sharon and Jason joined our Galapagos Island Hopping tour. For Sharon, it was fulfilling a lifelong dream to visit one of the world's most extraordinary destinations. From colonial Quito and Mindo Cloud Forest to the Galapagos Islands, her journey was packed with unforgettable moments. Here, Sharon tells us about their once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
I'd dreamed of visiting the Galapagos Islands ever since I watched David Attenborough documentaries as a teenager. It had always been one of those places that felt almost mythical, somewhere I'd hoped I'd see one day but never quite believed I would.
Now that I've been, I can honestly say it exceeded every expectation. It's the most perfect place I've ever visited, and I'm already wondering how I'll ever top it.
What surprised me most was that the holiday felt like two amazing adventures in one. Before reaching the Galapagos, we spent time exploring mainland Ecuador, and I completely fell in love with it. We were all so excited to reach the islands, but Ecuador itself turned out to be just as memorable.
Quito was a brilliant introduction to the country, with its beautiful colonial architecture and fascinating history. One of the highlights was visiting the Middle of the World Museum, where I could stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. It sounds like a simple photo opportunity, but there was so much more to it. We learnt about Ecuador's indigenous communities, explored traditional homes and even discovered that there are two Equator monuments, one built where the French originally thought the Equator lay, and another marking its true location. We also had great fun trying to balance an egg on a pin and walk along the Equator with our eyes closed. Neither challenge was as easy as it looked!
One of my favourite places was Mindo in the cloud forest. The hotel was absolutely beautiful. It wasn't luxurious in a modern way, it simply felt like it had been built with love. Everything was handcrafted, there were hammocks on the balconies, and we even spotted toucans from our room. I only wish we'd stayed another night because there was so much more to explore.
We made the most of every minute. We walked through rainforest trails looking for hummingbirds and toucans, watched the sunset from a viewing platform overlooking the forest and even headed out before breakfast one morning to squeeze in another adventure. We got a little lost in the jungle at one point, picked up more than a few spider webs along the way and arrived back at the hotel covered in spiders just as everyone else was sitting down for breakfast. It became one of the funniest memories of the whole trip.
One visit I hadn't expected to enjoy so much was visiting a local chocolate producer in Mindo. Ecuador is famous for its cacao, and after making my own chocolate from freshly ground cocoa beans, I completely understood why.
We roasted and ground the beans by hand before creating our own chocolate and tasting all sorts of different varieties. I can honestly say Ecuadorian chocolate is some of the best I've ever eaten. I brought plenty home with me and still wished I'd bought more.
The visit didn't stop there either. There was chocolate beer, chocolate lip balm, chocolate skincare products and even chocolate spa treatments. I couldn't resist trying a chocolate hand treatment, and my skin felt wonderfully soft afterwards.
The food throughout the holiday was another lovely surprise. Whether we were enjoying lunch in the pretty town of Mindo, sampling fresh seafood by the coast or trying local Ecuadorian dishes, every meal felt like another opportunity to be immersed the country and its heritage. The produce was incredibly fresh, and you could tell how proud Ecuadorians are of what they grow.
Then came the Galapagos.
Nothing prepares you for your first glimpse of the islands. Before we'd even reached our hotel, sea lions were playing in the harbour, pelicans were flying overhead and a huge marine iguana was casually making its way across the path. It was one of those moments where you realise you're somewhere completely unique.
One thing that really impressed me was how carefully the islands are protected. Every time we travelled between islands, our luggage was checked to make sure we weren't accidentally transporting seeds, shells, rocks or anything else that could affect the fragile ecosystem. It was wonderful to see just how seriously conservation is taken.
The thing that struck me most was how much the wildlife is protected. The animals really are king here. Because they're so well protected, they aren't frightened of people. You always keep your distance, but sometimes they come to you instead. I was filming two sea lions on the beach when another one wandered over and nudged my leg, almost as if it wanted to be in the video too.
Every island had its own personality, but Isabela Island completely stole my heart. The beaches were stunning, with white sand stretching into crystal-clear water. We would be sitting quietly when pelicans landed nearby, sea lions wandered onto the beach and marine iguanas appeared from nowhere. Wildlife was simply part of everyday life.
One of the highlights was visiting the giant tortoise breeding programme. Seeing tiny hatchlings alongside enormous tortoises that were more than 150 years old was awe-inspiring, but what made the experience even more special was our guide, Fernando.
Fernando had been involved in the conservation programme as a child. He told us how local schoolchildren were encouraged to help protect the giant tortoises and how one of his childhood friends now runs the breeding centre. Hearing those stories made the trip feel so much more personal.
Another unforgettable stop was the Charles Darwin Research Centre on Santa Cruz Island. I'd grown up watching documentaries about Lonesome George, so seeing him there was surprisingly emotional.
Learning that every island has developed its own distinct species of giant tortoise really brought home just how extraordinary evolution has been in the Galapagos. The conservation work taking place there is remarkable, and visiting the centre gave me an even greater appreciation for everything that's being done to protect these unique species for future generations.
One of the most rewarding days was hiking up Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island. It was certainly one of the more challenging walks, but it was well worth the effort. As we climbed, the landscape changed dramatically from dry volcanic terrain into lush greenery surrounding the enormous caldera. Along the way we spotted rare birds and enjoyed spectacular views across one of the world's largest volcanic craters. It was another reminder that every island has its own unique landscape.
Although I discovered snorkelling wasn't really for me, I still joined every boat trip and loved every minute of it. While everyone else explored beneath the surface, I stayed on deck taking photographs and watching the wildlife.
The boat journeys between the islands became adventures in themselves. We spotted turtles swimming alongside us, flying fish skimming across the water and, on one unforgettable crossing, a magnificent manta ray launching itself clear out of the sea before twisting back beneath the waves.
At Los Túneles I chose to swim rather than snorkel, and the water was beautifully warm. It felt like swimming in a natural lagoon surrounded by volcanic rock formations while sea lions, turtles and colourful fish explored the water around us. Watching everyone return from snorkelling, hearing about the underwater tunnels and hammerhead sharks they had seen, I could understand why it's such a popular optional excursion.
Later in the trip, I was lucky enough to photograph one of the Galapagos' famous frigatebirds displaying its bright red throat pouch while trying to attract a mate. It was one of those moments that wildlife photographers dream of.
Great guides can completely transform a holiday, and Fernando certainly did that for me. He grew up on Isabela Island, and his family were among the first settlers there. Every story he shared came from personal experience. He introduced us to local people, explained the islands history and conservation projects and made us feel as though we weren't simply visiting the Galapagos, we were discovering them through the eyes of someone who truly loved them.
When we later visited the Interpretation Centre on San Cristóbal, so much of what we'd learnt made perfect sense because Fernando had already brought the islands' history to life with his storytelling.
He was genuinely one of the best guides I've ever travelled with.
If I had one piece of advice for anyone considering this holiday, it would simply be to go. Save up, make it happen and enjoy every second. If you can, treat yourself to upgraded flights because this really is a once-in-a-lifetime journey and it's worth making the most of every part of it.
Packing can be a challenge because you'll experience several different climates, from cool evenings in Quito to warm days in the Galapagos, so layers are essential. I'd also recommend travelling as lightly as possible because you'll be moving between islands by boat.
I'd wanted to visit the Galapagos for most of my life, and somehow the reality was even better than I'd imagined. It still feels wonderfully unspoilt, the wildlife is extraordinary and every day feels like a privilege. It's a destination I'll never forget, and one I think everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.
The holiday of a lifetime for nature lovers. Explore Ecuador's cloud forest and stay on three of the Galapagos Islands.
