Author: randy

This is the first time seeing tortoises in the wild. Amazing! Later in the day we hiked a huge lava field. You could see lava everywhere. You would walk along and a green oasis would appear with flamingos feeding.

 

Started in Elizabeth bay on Isabella island with a 2 hour panga ride floating through the mangroves. We saw sea turtles, rays and our first penguins. We went nearby to snorkel and saw a ton of sea turtles even a golden one. The penguins are very fast in the water. They swam around in circles right in front of me then climbed over the rocks to the beach on the other side. Nice morning.

We sailed to “Isabela Island- Urbina Bay” during lunch. Wet landing and a hike. First time for large groups of marine iguanas here. Later when we snorkeled off the pangas they were swimming all around us. You could watch them while they were on the bottom feeding. Pretty cool.

We started the day at “Fernandina Espinoza”. I decided to leave the camera on the boat and just soak it all in. We had a dry landing and hike. Later we snorkeled off the pangas.

Sailed to “Puerto Egas” during lunch. Wet landing and hike. First time for fur seals and even saw a golden sea turtle. I saw another golden turtle while snorkeling a few days later. Was told that they are rare. Marine and land iguanas. Golden iguana is the land type. Later we snorkeled off the beach.

We arrived to Santiago Island early in the morning. Took a panga ride to look around first thing. Visited Buccaneer cove then went snorkeling off the pangas.

We had a wet landing on “Rabida Island” and a hike around a point. At the beginning of the trail as we rounded a corner a young Hawk was just sitting there. He was like 6ft. away from us as we passed and never moved. Later as we were on the other side of the point he landed in a tree right next to us. He was so curious. I was really amazed how close he was with not a care in the world. Beautiful! Later we snorkeled off the beach before heading back to the boat.

Woke up early as we arrived at “Chinese Hat”. Gee I wonder why they call it that. Two fishermen were anchored sleeping in their boat. When they got up to leave our boat crew gave them a couple of plates of food. They looked happy for getting a hot breakfast.

We had a wet landing and a hike along the shoreline. Our first encounter with sea lions in the wild. They just hung around not caring that we were there. Later in the morning we went snorkeling off the pangas. ( zodiacs ) We had short wet suits which helped because the water is a little chilly. One passenger Nora from Norway didn’t need a wet suit as the water was warm to her.

Day 1. I met the boat in Puerto Ayora. Flew into the airport took a bus to the water taxi then another bus into town. Finding the boat was a little adventure but a lady on the pier was a great help. It didn’t help that I was an hour late getting there. 

By the afternoon 14 guests had checked onto the boat. We went ashore past the fish market to the Darwin center where they breed tortoises. After that back to the boat and the beginning of our cruise.