Galapagos
Feb 2024
Enchanting animal encounters
Gah! The Galapagos Islands are a truly magical experience with such unique wildlife experiences along with some of the best conservation efforts on the planet. Every time we saw a really cool animal, I would proclaim it as my new favorite. What a wonderful place to witness the richness of biodiversity and see living examples of evolution.
Note on photos: All photos were taken with an iPhone 12, Galaxy 22, or GoPro 13. That’s how close we were to the animals, no fancy cameras or zoom.
Trip Plan
5 Days: San Cristobal Island
8 Days: Cruise on Angelito
Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach, Dragon Hill, Mosquera islet
Isabela Island: Tagus Cove, Urbina Bay, Elizabeth Bay, Moreno Point, Puerto Villamil, Sierra Negra Volcano, Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center
Fernandina Island: Espinosa Point
Floreana Island: Cormorant Point, Devil’s Crown
5 Days: Santa Cruz Island
North Seymour Island
San Cristobal
Sea lions, everywhere. On the benches, in roads, at the restaurants, in the water, chilling. We walked by a beach full of sea lions with pups to get from our hotel to anywhere.
360 Island Tour - took a boat around the island with stops to swim with sea lions & turtles. The sea lion swimming is insane - they were so curious and playful, I’m positive they were just showing off for us. Oh and we saw a hammerhead at the very end at Kicker Rock
Kicker Rock - we went back to do a full day here, since it’s famous. We saw a group hammerhead sharks, but it was murkier.
The Highlands - taxied across the middle of the island: a short hike at El Junco, a visit to la Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado, and finally some beach time at Puerto Chino
Puerto Banquerizo Moreno - our home base while here, near Playa Mann. Near town, we did a short walk to Playa Punta Carola (a locals beach) and a small climb to Mirador Cerro Tijeretas.
8-Day Cruise on the Angelito
Santa Cruz
Spent a day exploring here before we boarded the boat. Visited Charles Darwin Research Station, walked to Nymphs Lagoon, and ate a lot of great food!
Our first nature walk with our boat friends to Bachas beach with flamingos, blue-footed boobies (BFB), marine iguanas, pelicans, oyster catchers, and of course sea lions. On Mosquera island there were the cutest sea lions, also spotted whimbrels, herons, frigates, oyster-catchers, and sally lightfoots. On Dragon Hill, got SO close to the BFBs, stilts, mocking birds, fly catchers, and our first land iguana sighting!
Isabella
Tagus Cove was our first stop, featuring finches, doves, more land iguanas, and fantastic views. Snorkeling highlights were penguins!!, diving cormorants, and swimming marine iguanas.
Across the way on Fernandina at Espinosa Point, we walked through hoards of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, hawks, lizards, sea turtles, and lava flows.
Going south to Urbina Bay we had close encounters with wild giant tortoises and huge land iguanas. Late morning snorkel.
A zodiac ride in Elizabeth Bay led us right up to more sun-bathing penguins and BFBs, but the highlight was the flock of golden rays. Moreno Point was a vast lava field with fascinating textures (rough on the hands!).