Flight cost from the mainland $408 for AeroGal and $460 for LAN airlines. Prices are from Guayaquil, from Quito $50 more. On the arrival, there is $100 national park entrance
fee. Not cheap but this covers all the entrance fees in
the national park.
I arrived at the airport on Baltara Island which was built by Americans in 1942 to protect Panama Canal.
After short bus ride from the airport I arrived at the ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island.
Galapagos Islands archipelago.
View from ferry, Baltara island on the left and Santa Cruz on the right.
After 1 hour bus ride accross Santa Cruz I arrived in island's capital Puerto Ayora. The port.
The main street along the bay.
Kids playing.
Fishing boats at Puerto Ayora.
The next day I got struck with the worst diaria in my living memory. I blame it on the hamburger I ate on the arrival In Puerto Ayora, don't remember the name of the restaurant. After the recovery I went for walk around the town.
Having a nap on the bank's doorstep.
What a pretty face.
These red crabs were everywhere.
Puerto Ayora - volcanic rocks exposed during low tide.
The next day I visited Darwin Research Station. The station was created in 1964 and it is operated by Charles Darwin Foundation. Here, more than 100 scientists, students and volunteers are working with research and conservation projects to protect the Galapagos ecosystem and endangered species.
The beach I passed on the way to the Darwin Research Station. Puerto Ayora in the distance.
One of the projects started in 1960 to save tortoises from the extinction on Espanola Island
Typical vegetation on the Galapagos island.
This specie of the cactus is very common on the islands.
There is a lot of plants unique only to Galapagos Islands.
Lonesome George story.
Lonesome George himself.
One of two females from the Wolf Island, sharing the same enclosure with Lonesome George.
Unfortunately the story turned really bad; a month or so after I left the Galapagos islands I red en article: Lonesome George, the last tortoise from Pinta Island died.
Tortoises vary by size and shape, depending on the island they are coming from.
Land iguana. There are two species of land iguana on the Galapagos Islands.
Because of the heat, most animals were sleepy and hidden out of site. I decided to return the next morning.
The next morning - at the entrance to Darwin Center.
Tortoises are strictly vegetarian and feed on cactus.
This pretty face, only the mother could love it.
In the morning all animals were more active....
....including these tortoises.
There are two ways to explore Galapagos island; multi day cruise or daily trips to the individual islands. Only a few islands are opened to tourists. I decided to go on the organize cruise and in addition I wanted to visit some islands on daily trips. I arrived right at the end of Easter holiday. All cruises were booked out. I had to wait for few days for my cruise.
The following day I went on a day trip to Floreana Island.
This was the first island settled by European after the Galapagos Islands discovery. At first served as the hideaway for pirates then as base for Norgiean and American whalers, finally after Galapagos Island in 1833 was annexed to Ecuador, by Ecuadorians. At present it is inhibited by only 120 people. For most of the time, especially in early days, its resources were exploited, especially tortoises which were killed or captured for food. There are no native tortoises left on Floreana island.
On the way to Floreana Island.
The crossing from Santa Cruz to Floreana island took just over an hour.
Floreana Island on the horizon.
Floreana island port and the jetty.
On the jetty we were greeted by this mother seal with her baby.
On the rocks sea Iguanas feeding on algae. Despite their ferocious look they are strictly vegetarian.
And the pelican. Much smaller then its Australian cousin.
Blue footed boobies are an icon on the Galapagos islands.
At first we had a snorkel off the beach.
And after the lunch......
..... we explored interior of the island.
I was here.
....more action.
The only natural source of fresh water on the island. It is located nearly in the center of the island.
These caves were used for shelter at first by pirates and later by first European inhabitants; including Villamors and Witteners.
The Kitchen.....
......and the bedroom.
Descendants of Wittmer family still live on the island but they moved to this house...
Time to go back to Santa Cruz Island.
While on Santa Cruz I explored Tortuga Bay.
On the way to Tortuga Bay
Typical landscape.
Tortoises feed on this cactus.
This beach reminded me home - Australia.
Sea Iguanas were plentiful.
They varied in size. Some quite large, up to 1 meter long.
Often in pairs.
Beach, cacti and iguanas - all in one place.
The largest Sea Iguana I have seen.
Cacti forest right on the beach.
The beach at Tortuga Bay.
Tortuga Bay was inhabited by juvenalie sharks.
Tortuga Bay on the far side was overgrown by mangroves, perfect habitat for small fish.
Sea Iguanas often are seen in larger groups.
In two days time starts my cruise around Galapagos Islands. It starts from San Cristobal Island.
On my way to San Cristobal Island.
The jetty on arrival.
Main street.
Malecon along the bay.
The seals are characteristic and plentiful for San Cristobal Island.
They ocuppy every empty space in this memorial park.
The boats are fair game for this mammals.
...and the park bench.
They are were everywhere...
....playing in the water.
This baby seal is waiting for its mum while she is at sea hunting for fish.
I booked diving trip for the following day. Two dives at Kicker rock for $120. Not cheap. I heard, last year tourists paid $150 on San Cristobal and $200 on Santa Cruz.
For the moment we thought this is our boat
.....but we were in luck.
On the way to Lobo island.
On Lobo Island we had a snorkel and we tested our scuba gear.
There was a time for bird watching.
On the way to Kicker rock.
Kicker Rock.
At Kicker Rock we had chance to see Hammerhead sharks providing the conditions are right:: strong current required. Hammerhead sharks need strong current to breath – no gills
We dived in the channel between the rocks.
Getting ready.
The depth about 25m.
The boat was waiting for us on the other side of the rock.
Unfortunately, the condition were perfect for diving, not for Hammerheads - no current. We ancountered a lot of Galapagos sharks, few white tip sharks, manta rays, turtles, moray eal, large stonefish and more.
On the way back to San Cristobal.
But first we stopped for a snorkel in this bay.
.... and we explored the beach.
The next day I walked to the highest point on the Island.
View of the port on the way up.
Down below sheltered bay perfect for snorkelling.
The view of the bay and the port from the top of the mountain.
My next blog,; 5 day cruise around Galapagos Islands.
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