The Galápagos Islands, with BITINIA ESPINOZA, Cruise Director on Celebrity Flora.

GROWING UP IN THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS, WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES?

It was truly amazing! I enjoyed playing outside with friends, swimming, hiking, fishing with my father, and watching whales and dolphins during our navigations.

AS A LOCAL OF SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, WHAT ARE SOME SITES YOU RECOMMEND SEEING IN ADDITION TO THE CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION?

Santa Cruz is surrounded by beautiful places such us Tortuga Bay, El Garrapatero Beach, Divine´s Bay, Playa de los Perros, Las Grietas, and The Giant Tortoises Reserve. Los Gemelos is a forest in the Highland which is being restored thanks to Celebrity Flora and her guests.

IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE TIP ON TAKING THE BEST WILDLIFE PHOTOS IN THE GALÁPAGOS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

First, you have to respect the wildlife, be patient, and wait for the animals to become used to your presence (which is not difficult in the Galápagos). You’ll want the right gear: A telephoto lens is a must for wildlife photography, but you should never forget a wide-angle lens to capture the essence of the habitats and the beautiful landscapes of the islands.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE THAT ALWAYS SURPRISES OR AMAZES TRAVELERS?

The innocence of a sea lion pup, or a small bird flying into a camera lens to watch from the other side. Flocks of birds will plunge-dive in front of a boat, plus birds will do their courtship dances in front of a group of visitors—showing no fear at all.

WHAT LESSONS DO YOU HOPE GUESTS WILL LEARN FROM THEIR TIME ON THE ISLANDS?

To live in peace and coexist with nature. There is always a good way to protect our own planet and a way to repair it for the future generations. Our guests on board Celebrity Flora have the unique opportunity to help park rangers plant trees. The most important is if we all do it together, we can make a tremendous difference in the world. We have taken over 23,000 guests and planted more than 50,000 trees!