Seven Days of Exploration and Enchantment
We sailed with the Quasar Evolution from April 5 to 12. The booking agents (Diane and Paul), ship, captain (Diego), cruise director (Ruben), crew, naturalists (Bolivar, Cornelia, and Monika), meals, island visits, water activities, scenery, and animals all exceeded our expectations. The booking process was simple, with a lot of information that helped us prepare for the trip. Even though we arrived very late (near midnight) and had a long drive (45 min) from the airport into Old Town Quito, we felt safe with our driver and the hotel staff was waiting for us (all arranged by Quasar). Our city tour guide, Gabriel (also arranged by Quasar), gave us a good introduction to the history of Quito and its beautiful plaza and churches. The seven days on the Evolution were well-organized and filled with a comfortably paced schedule of water and land activities. All activities were led by the national park naturalists who were very personable, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about the islands. Unscripted on-board activities added to the trip, such as daily siestas, visiting the bridge while crossing the equator, impromptu stargazing, and happy hours in the open-air lounge. We also enjoyed the company of extraordinary, interesting, and friendly fellow passengers. While the mix of people on an expedition cruise cannot be predicted, we can’t help but think that the Evolution itself attracts special people.