Ecuador (March 2009)
We saw marine iguanas feeding on algae.
We, also, saw a lot of Pacific Green Turtles swimming in shallow water.
There were many birds such as the Galapagos Penguins, flightless cormorants, Galapagos Hawk, and pelicans. After enjoying sights and sounds of the young volcanic island, we returned to the Santa Cruz for lunch and some free time.
In the late afternoon we transferred to pangas, again, to explore a small portion of the shores of Isabela, the largest island among the Galapagos Islands. We did not land on this island. We saw a lot of penguins and blue-footed boobies on cliffs. Later some of us went snorkeling.
Unlike other snorkeling sites, water was fairly cool, and many of us wore a light wetsuit. We saw many Pacific Green Sea Turtles swimming under us. Also, penguins would occasionally whiz by. Not too many colorful fish, however. This is where my underwater camera got flooded and prevented me taking photos!
Day 14:
The ship had sailed around the island of Isabela overnight and dropped anchor at the Itabaca Channel between the islands of Baltra and Santa Cruz. Since this was our last day on Galapagos Islands, we packed our bags and gave them to the staff to transport them to the airport.
After breakfast, we disembarked the Santa Cruz for the last time, and took a bus to Puerto Ayota to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station.
I found the Charles Darwin Research Station (at least the portion that we got to see) to be somewhat disappointing because I had expected much more. Giant Tortoise were the highlights, however.
We, also, saw a lot of Pacific Green Turtles swimming in shallow water.
There were many birds such as the Galapagos Penguins, flightless cormorants, Galapagos Hawk, and pelicans. After enjoying sights and sounds of the young volcanic island, we returned to the Santa Cruz for lunch and some free time.
In the late afternoon we transferred to pangas, again, to explore a small portion of the shores of Isabela, the largest island among the Galapagos Islands. We did not land on this island. We saw a lot of penguins and blue-footed boobies on cliffs. Later some of us went snorkeling.
Unlike other snorkeling sites, water was fairly cool, and many of us wore a light wetsuit. We saw many Pacific Green Sea Turtles swimming under us. Also, penguins would occasionally whiz by. Not too many colorful fish, however. This is where my underwater camera got flooded and prevented me taking photos!
Day 14:
The ship had sailed around the island of Isabela overnight and dropped anchor at the Itabaca Channel between the islands of Baltra and Santa Cruz. Since this was our last day on Galapagos Islands, we packed our bags and gave them to the staff to transport them to the airport.
After breakfast, we disembarked the Santa Cruz for the last time, and took a bus to Puerto Ayota to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station.
I found the Charles Darwin Research Station (at least the portion that we got to see) to be somewhat disappointing because I had expected much more. Giant Tortoise were the highlights, however.
Baby tortoises are hatched and raised at the research station to restore the population on various islands. They are numbered and color-coded to identify the islands where eggs were collected.
We, also, saw a couple of land iguanas in captivity. They exhibited aggressive behaviors unlike their marine cousins. In fact individuals were kept in separate quarters.
In the town nearby, I noticed colorful tropical flowers as well as some giant cacti. Some of these were as tall as 40 ft. or 12 m!
After visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, we took a bus back to the north end of the island of Santa Cruz where we took a short (5 to 10 min) ferry ride to the Island of Baltra, where the main airport is located.
Our plane back to Guayaquil was delayed about an hour because of the arrival of Prince Charles. (Luckily the tour company knew of this delay in advance, and thus we had extra time at the research station.)
We arrived at the Guayaquil International Airport in the late afternoon. Since Guayaquil is the industrial center of Ecuador, it was a large modern airport.
We then checked into a hotel near the airport to get ready for a flight back to Miami the following morning. After spending several days on a ship, the large bathroom at the hotel looked as large as (or even larger than) the cabin on the ship! Although some members of the group had a quick trip into the city, most of us stayed at the hotel and just relaxed.
Day 15:
We got up early to catch a non-stop flight back to Miami.
This was another wonderful adventure! If you haven't been to the Galapagos Islands, I highly recommend a trip soon.
We, also, saw a couple of land iguanas in captivity. They exhibited aggressive behaviors unlike their marine cousins. In fact individuals were kept in separate quarters.
In the town nearby, I noticed colorful tropical flowers as well as some giant cacti. Some of these were as tall as 40 ft. or 12 m!
After visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, we took a bus back to the north end of the island of Santa Cruz where we took a short (5 to 10 min) ferry ride to the Island of Baltra, where the main airport is located.
Our plane back to Guayaquil was delayed about an hour because of the arrival of Prince Charles. (Luckily the tour company knew of this delay in advance, and thus we had extra time at the research station.)
We arrived at the Guayaquil International Airport in the late afternoon. Since Guayaquil is the industrial center of Ecuador, it was a large modern airport.
We then checked into a hotel near the airport to get ready for a flight back to Miami the following morning. After spending several days on a ship, the large bathroom at the hotel looked as large as (or even larger than) the cabin on the ship! Although some members of the group had a quick trip into the city, most of us stayed at the hotel and just relaxed.
Day 15:
We got up early to catch a non-stop flight back to Miami.
This was another wonderful adventure! If you haven't been to the Galapagos Islands, I highly recommend a trip soon.
