Islas Galápagos

Now it was time to follow in the steps of Charles Darwin and visit the Galápagos Islands!

We just couldn't go to Ecuador and not go to the Galápagos, but it doesn't exactly have a reputation for being a budget friendly place, so we had a challenge.

Step 1 - get to the island

First success, blow $500 each on return flights and then an extra $100 each just to get onto the islands... so far, doing well.

We really wanted to do a cruise and had read lots about booking cruises in advance on the mainland versus flying straight to the island and trying to wing a last minute cruise, hopefully getting a better deal. But with the latter you risk not finding a cruise or waiting for days for one to be available. We took our chances and flew straight there from Guayaquil after an overnight bus from Peru and we were nervous.

Step 2 - find a cruise

Luckily we found help from a super (literally) travel agent, Jorge who laid our options out for us.

The mask actually velcros into the hood

Two cruises were on the table, similar routes of the north islands (near and around the one that looks like a seahorse) but one was more expensive. So we went for the cheaper one which was leaving in 6 days time, perfect to let us do some day trips beforehand. And finally, breathe and relax...

So the next day, we booked ourselves on a day trip to San Cristobal to go snorkelling at three different sites. When we showed up we realised we hadn't actually asked any questions about what the tour involved as we'd been so tired the day before, but luckily it was one of the best days had we had on the islands!

Just from the boat we had dolphins chasing us and we saw a huge whale! Then we went to La Loberia to see the sea lions. Note, we had already seen sea lions as they are literally everywhere on the island, on benches, underneath tables, on the boats! We got to swim with baby sea lions who are so playful and cute and huge sea turtles.

An Adonis, and even more so in skin tight attire!

OK!

Just hanging out

Heading back out

Then came another highlight, seeing Galápagos sharks and stingrays at the next snorkel site, Kicker Rock.

Kicker rock is a great place to "sea" everything

Rays

Galápagos sharks

Yet more Galápagos sharks

Great first day!

The islands were much more populated and developed than we thought with 19,000 people living on the main island, Santa Cruz. And it's true what they say, that the animals just act as if the people there are annoying paparazzi, and I suppose we were...

Especially the owner of this camera lens...

The most surprising thing was this train that toured the island every night at extremely high speeds. We think it was for children but it was pretty terrifying.

Over the next few days we went to museums about the islands, we found out there used to be a prison on one of them! We went for hikes on volcanic rocks, saw giant tortoises at the Darwin Centre (sadly no more Lonesome George although no one has taken the sign down yet), visited Las Grietas, a gorge where we watched people cliff jump from 15 metres, visited lots of beaches, including Tortuga Bay and ate the freshest fish and plantain chips at the fish market.

Las Grietas, watching cliff jumpers

Pelicans causing havoc at the fish market

Enjoying the views at Tortuga Bay beach

Lots of marine iguanas keeping warm at Tortuga Bay

Tortoises at the Darwin Centre. The funny thing about this picture is it's male on male

And then it was time to board our home for the next 8 days, the King of the Seas!

Although one of the more budget options (and yes it was small), our guide was great and so was the food! And there were only 12 of us so we never had to wait to be taken to the islands.

We started by seeing some giant tortoises and even got to try out a shell for size

We saw loads of amazing birds including the infamos Blue Footed Booby

The blue footed booby doing its mating dance

And frigate birds, where the males blow up a red pocket above their chest to attract a mate

Courtesy of Aritz Ranero Gulliver

There's even flamingoes on the Glapagos islands

And hawks

And not forgetting of course, Darwin's finches (this is a cactus finch)

We saw plenty of marine and land iguanas

Marine iguanas

Land iguanas

Courtesy of Aritz Ranero Gulliver and his giant zoom lens

Some very fast moving crabs

Gorgeous sea lions

We have finally managed to work out how to insert videos. So here is our first blog video. Expect more to come!

"Mum!, Mum! I want milk! M-I-L-K!

And not forgetting the incredible volcanic landscapes

When you gotta go, you gotta go.

 

And then there was what lurked beneath... Luckily three of our group had GOPROs! Thanks guys!

We got close to some penguins

Lots of colourful fish

Smiling for its close up!!

John disrupting the school

Catching a ride on the turtle

Sea lions

With an itchy nose

Stingrays

A mantaray the size of a car!

White tipped sharks

And turtles

Sarah snorkelling with turtles

While we are on a roll, here is another video. Although, on this one we haven't learnt how to edit out the bits that make Sarah look like Eric the Eel.

What can we say, Galápagos, you were great!

John clearly not grasping counting to 3 and THEN jump