Hurtigruten Expeditions has announced that starting in JAN 2022, it will be expanding its destinations to include the Galapagos Islands.
“We are extremely excited to expand our South America offering to one of the most spectacular destinations on the planet. There is huge pent-up demand for traveling right now, and we are responding with this breathtaking new destination,” said Hurtigruten Group CEO Daniel Skjeldam.
“The pandemic has dramatically pushed this development forward,” he continued. “We have seen a clear trend of travellers seeking out truly unique and meaningful travel experiences, with a sharp increase in demand for the type of small ships and big experiences we offer.”
As part of this expansion, Hurtigruten has entered into a long-term strategic partnership with Ecuador-based Metropolitan Touring, a travel company in the Galapagos.
Starting on 05JAN 2022, Hurtigruten will offer nine-day adventures year round, exploring the Galapagos and visiting some iconic sites of the archipelago onboard the fully upgraded 90-guest MS Santa Cruz II.
The Galapagos is home to more than 9,000 species of wildlife, many of which are native only to the remote archipelago. Hurtigruten cruise highlights include exploring some of these species, including visiting Giant Tortoises at a breeding center, getting close to sea lions and land iguanas, and even bird watching. Other activities include kayaking, and snorkeling, as well as daily lectures to better understand the islands, their history, and local animal population both above and below the water.
It is also possible to add a four-day pre-program to Machu Picchu in Peru before embarking on the Galapagos adventure. Post packages are also available after the six-night expedition cruise.
For more information on Hurtigruten’s new Galapagos offering, click here.
