We left early in the morning to fly to Galapagos via Guyaquil. Daniel threatened any of us who got off the plane in Guyaquil as it was only a 1 hour stop and we had to stay in our seats to not miss the second leg of the flight.
We flew into Baltra Island where we had to take a bus to a ferry to Isabela. On Isabela, we took a bus to a water taxi to a speed boat (2 hour ride) to another water taxi to a bus to our hotel, Casita de la Playa. We would be spending 3 nights in one hotel, hooray!!!
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Leaving Quito
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Volcano popping out of the clouds
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| First glimpse of the islands |
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Our speed boat for 2 hours - the swells were 2 meters high - we all took 2 dramamine and managed not to get sick
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| First glimpse of Blue Footed Boobies from the boat |
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Galapagos Penguin swimming near the dock
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| Marine Iguana and Crab |
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| Our view from the hotel |
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| Our home away from home for 3 nights! Felt good to be in one place for a bit |
We hiked in the highlands where it is always misty and cooler. We had the best guide, Alfredo, who showed us the Sierra Negra Volcano and Volcan Chico via a 10 mile trek. There was a large sinkhole that was socked in, so no pictures of it.
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| We were in for a muddy day |
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| Add caption |
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| Wind blown tree with many varieties of lichen |
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| Our lunch spot - Arroz con Pollo was delish |
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| Hole where gases are released - it was warm if you put your hand down inside |
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| It began to look like another planet once we left the lush greens and began hiking on the lava |
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| Fat seahorse formation |
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| Lava tube |
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| Lava tube |
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| Lava formations |
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| Lava lizards were everywhere |
After our hike, we cleaned up and headed to the Galapagos Tortoise Breeding Center
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| One clawed crabs along the walkway |
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| Flamingos! |
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| The fruit inside are sweet and the finches love them |
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| Some of the babies - they all have numbers on their shells |
We found happy hour!!
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| Happy Hour started early for us |
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| Beach bars are the best |
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| Coco Loco - the bartender decided I was crazier than a Coco Loco since it tasted like it had no alcohol in it |
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| Caipirinha - local specialty - sugarcane moonshine with lime and sugar |
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| The Happy Hour group |
Snorkeling in the lava tunnels - land flora and fauna
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| Galapagos Penguins and Sea Lion |
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| Blue Footed Boobies - Full grown and baby |
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| No one actually knows why the feet are blue - one theory is the food they eat - like flamingos but blue |
This is the sound they make.
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| Lava bridge |
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| Amazingly large lobsters - they were so good grilled with garlic sauce |
Tintoreas Island
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| The males become colorful during mating season |
This is the defense dance of the marine iguana
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| They have no natural predators so they let you get very close |
Charles Darwin Research Center
Los Gemelos - "The Twins" are sinkholes within 100 yards of each other in the highlands
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| Finch in the tree |
El Chato Ranch - Galapagos Tortoise breeding ground - they come up to the highlands every year to breed - the males get there before the females
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| They use the mud to cool down and renew minerals into their skin - like a spa |
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| Water moss |
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| Lava Tunnel |
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| Full galapagos tortoise shell to try on - it was heavy! |
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| Look at the size of that femur! |
The Galapagos Tortoise can live up to 200 years old and be up to 600 lbs.
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