Sounds like we are going to do a similar trip to yours. What did you think of your Aggressor trip? I am so excited, but nervous about the changes that may take place in the galapagos by the time we get there. We booked so far out before there were all sorts of issues. I know there is a new president in Ecuador now, but not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Thanks for any opinions on your diving portion. Also--how many days before your trip did you arrive in Ecuador? We were thinking of flying in Tues for the thurs. departure and hanging out in Quito for a day.
I went for the first time in September 2005, I loved diving the Galapagos Aggressor so much, I imemdiately signed on for a September 07 trip when I got back. Darwin and Wolf are the most amazing diving I've done, for sheer constant pelagic action. I did Cocos July 06, and found Darwin/Wolf to be much better and more consistent. This trip was a bit less sharky in terms of Galapagos sharks, and the hammer schools at Darwin weren't quite what they were in 2005, but the whale sharks were better.
The central island diving isn't as good, but it's still pretty good. Cousins Rock is a beatiful dive site.
The boat is a top notch, first class operation, very attentive and competent crew.
As far as the land tours, who knows, but I hate to say that i found the land tours to be as amazing as the diving. To be amongst the animals without fear is really special. I did notice that they restricted access to some areas, for example on Seymour Island the path was much much narrower than two years ago, and we were kept further from nesting areas, etc. Which is a good thing for the animals.
If they ban diving/land tours, you can add a couple days t the end in Puerto Ayora and hit the same sites the Aggressor does - Plaza, Seymour and Bartolome.
Both times I have arrived in Quito the day before departure for Galapagos (i.e., Thurs departure, arrive Tues night). The day in Quito was spent going to the old town and the equator (the "real" equator, not the Mitad del Mundo monument, which does not sit on the equator proper) the first trip, and going to Cotopaxi the second trip
Our trip this year was Arrive Tues, Cotopaxi Wed, fly to Galapagos Thurs, return and overnight Quito Thursday, fly to Coca Friday am for trip to La Selva, return and overnight Quito Monday, leave Tuesday.