Explore the Galapagos Islands like These ‘Amazing Race’ Winners
Amazing Race winners Will Jardell and James Wallington celebrate their honeymoon on Hurtigruten’s Galapagos Islands Expedition to follow in Charles Darwin’s footsteps.
You may know Will Jardell and James Wallington as the adventurous Amazing Race Season 32 winners, snagging the $1 million prize. The world travelers also made history by becoming the first LGBTQ+ couple to get engaged on the immersive fast-paced reality show.
After postponing their wedding several times because of the pandemic, Will and James were finally married in New Orleans in December 2021. And they embarked on their amazing adventure with Hurtigruten Expeditions for its first-ever departure in the Galapagos.
Ok, it’s not a gay cruise, but it’s what some people have called a life-altering experience. And this adventure-seeking duo kicked off their honeymoon at Mashpi Lodge, a rainforest lodge home to 400 species of birds, trees, and endemic species found nowhere else in the world.
Two of their favorite experiences were the hummingbird garden and Dragonfly, an open-air cable care system that carries passengers over the forest canopy. The couple then flew to Quito for two days of exploration before six nights in the Galapagos Islands. Will and James stayed in a Darwin Suite on the Panoramic deck aboard the MS Santa Cruz II, which features double windows and deluxe amenities.
Queer travelers looking to satisfy their adventurous wanderlust can book one of Hurtigruten’s expeditions to Galapagos – in 2022 or 2023 – that range between seven-day to 14-day expeditions. And if you’re interested in the same route that Will and James booked for their honeymoon, then you’re in luck!
The Galapagos Islands Expedition – In Darwin’s Footsteps is offered several times this year – 21 departures between March 2022 and December 2022. There’s even a special solo traveler offer if you don’t feel like traveling with a “plus one.”
LGBTQ+ travelers on this nine-day journey will start with two nights at a hotel in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage City filled with Spanish-era architecture and packed with cozy restaurants and small artisanal shops. After Quito, you’ll hit the road two hours south to visit an active volcano and take a nature walk at Cotopaxi National Park. Afterward, some of the region’s best chefs will serve you traditional dishes in San Agustin del Callo.
On the third day, you’ll take a flight from Quito to Baltra Island to board the MS Santa Cruz II and embark on your first stop at the southern tip of Mosquera Islet to narrow sandbank surrounded by lava reefs, home to one of the largest colonies of sea lines in the Galapagos.
During this bucket list expedition, you’ll learn about the fragile marine life and terrestrial ecosystems. On San Cristobal Island, you’ll visit the breeding center for the endangered giant tortoise, go snorkeling or swimming, and visit Punta Pitt, the only place where you might be able to spot three species of Blue-footed Boobies.
On Santa Fe Island, you can hop aboard a glass-bottom boat to get a peek of the underwater world or explore the island at your own pace. And on South Plaza Island, you’ll see the stunning array of flora, including the dense patches of prickly pairs. And if you’re lucky, you may spot a hybrid of the land and marine iguana – evolution in action!
Guests on this expedition will make their way to Santa Cruz Island, home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where 200 scientists and volunteers are working to conserve the wildlife of the Galapagos. See Darwin’s famous finches with your own eyes, learn how to turn sugarcane into juice or ferment into liquor, go mountain biking or kayaking in Tortuga Bay. You can also take a hike the 1.3 miles and stop at Playa Brava, a snow-white-sand beach that’s a nesting site for green turtles.
On this Galapagos expedition, you’ll also make stops to visit Espanola Island and North Seymour Island.
For more details on how you can embark on this immersive voyage to the Galapagos like Will and James, or explore other bucket list destinations like Antarctica, visit Hurtigruten Expeditions’ website.
