Adapting to the Galapagos Islands

After visiting the Amazon, George and I weren’t quite done getting our fill of amazing animals. It was time to visit the famed Galapagos Island chain about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, birthplace of Charles Darwin’s scientific research, and home to many fearless species of marine, reptile, and bird life.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mHPiWH4pyRY/VgmmoK0D87I/AAAAAAAA4RI/XO7nPIuT2bc/s144-c-o/IMG_2478.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669571079893938″ caption=”Galapagos penguins enjoying the volcanic island life” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2478.jpg” ]

But what makes Galapagos so special anyway? The Galapagos, consisting of 18 main islands, are one of the youngest chains of volcanic islands in the world and because of the mix of currents bringing an abundance of marine life, and how remote they are, the flora and fauna developed in a very “unique” way. When I say unique, here are some examples:

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z580jy_3hvI/VgmmoA4SRhI/AAAAAAAA4m4/TMXqVXfglhY/s144-c-o/GOPR0392.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669568413255186″ caption=”The famous swimming marine iguana, the only ones in the world are found in the Galapagos – when the island chain was first being formed there was little in terms of land food, so the iguanas had to learn to swim for food!” type=”image” alt=”GOPR0392.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sWXC9IhE2rw/VgmmoBjh34I/AAAAAAAA4RI/InD-R4cmArg/s144-c-o/IMG_2360.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669568594632578″ caption=”Birds with blue feet? Hi Mr. Blue-footed booby” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2360.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y–AV570mMA/VgmmoJXIAZI/AAAAAAAA4RI/qZ3lNqFWTPA/s144-c-o/IMG_2396.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669570690089362″ caption=”This is the only penguin that lives north of the equator in the wild” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2396.jpg” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kLF4FaiDJSw/VgmmoAQR73I/AAAAAAAA4RI/UFwTgFokXnw/s144-c-o/IMG_2577.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669568245460850″ caption=”Flightless cormorant guarding his eggs – the only cormorant in the world that can’t fly. Its just too easy to fish and with no predators, who needs to fly?” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2577.jpg” ]

Its true, most of the animals here have no predators, so what is also unique is how NOT SCARED they are of humans. Seriously, you are supposed to stay 2 meters away at all times (that’s about 6 feet for those back home), and sometimes staying that far away was difficult because of how curious the animals are of humans, especially the sea lions!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vemDK9356KU/VgmmoOuIldI/AAAAAAAA4RI/yShi7d4Q2Fk/s144-c-o/IMG_2238.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669572128773586″ caption=”The sea lions were very curious about the visitors to their private island” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2238.jpg” ]

You have to fly to Galapagos, and to visit you really have two choices once you reach the island chain: 1) you can visit three of the inhabited islands where you can do day trips to popular snorkeling and diving spots, or 2) you can cruise around the islands on a yacht or catamaran and visit more sites. After checking into some last minute cruise deals, George and I decided to try our luck again at boat life (in case you forgot, here was our sailboat adventure).

We found a good deal on a 5 day Tourist Superior class cruise to the west side of Isabela island (with more abundant marine and reptile life). If you want a good deal on a cruise, booking “last minute” – meaning up to 2 weeks in advance – is the way to go. You can get 50% discounts (sometimes more) on Luxury class cruises, and good discounts on First-Class or Tourist-Superior class cruises. Also, if you are even more adventurous, you can show up in Galapagos and get an even better last minute deal in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz island, which is what our friends Sandra and Eddie did (Sea2Stars). We actually got to meet up with them again in Galapagos to say hello and swap cruising stories!

So with our cruise and flight booked, we hopped on a plane from Quito to Santa Cruz Island where the airport is located, and where our cruise would be departing from. Goodbye Titus…hello Galapagos!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5kQgopUvhGM/VgmmoLcvU7I/AAAAAAAA4RI/vpLOyMTK4y0/s144-c-o/IMG_2176.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669571250508722″ caption=”Welcome to Galapagos – Puerto Ayora the jumping off point for all your Galapagos fun” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2176.jpg” ]

We decided to spend a couple days in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz island prior to our cruise so George could get a diving day in, and I could see some massive tortugas (turtles). Just one day in Galapagos made us super excited for what else we were going to see on our cruise!
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MztWqtC_Qx8/VgmmoLqP60I/AAAAAAAA4RI/L7TcaZSTbyU/s144-c-o/GOPR0352.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669571307170626″ caption=”Scuba Pro” type=”image” alt=”GOPR0352.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-beWe-b2vCqI/VgmmoJ7fcrI/AAAAAAAA4RI/0kWyX4OX7Ws/s144-c-o/GOPR0376.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669570842620594″ caption=”Black tip shark – dive trip North Seymour-Mosqueras galapagos” type=”image” alt=”GOPR0376.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hzpCwTm1aLs/Vg6Opuih4GI/AAAAAAAA4os/BVj6vIXhKbg/s144-c-o/GOPR0407.png” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6201050584454389858″ caption=”Jaws?” type=”video” alt=”GOPR0407.mp4″ ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YmdabToDQZQ/VgmmoHMnhzI/AAAAAAAA4RI/qL3Al58d_OU/s144-c-o/IMG_2142.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669570109146930″ caption=”The giant land turtles of the Galapagos” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2142.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oU3iaMrlgDI/VgmmoFMzEaI/AAAAAAAA4RE/8et9QzPUugk/s144-c-o/IMG_2163.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669569573032354″ caption=”Jenine also makes a good turtle” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2163.jpg” ]

It was time to start our cruise, so we made the trek back to the airport for our pickup and learned that (SURPRISE!) we were being upgraded to a first class boat, The Fragata. Apparently there weren’t enough passengers to warrant two boats from the same company going on the voyage, so lucky us! Upgrade accepted. The boat was spacious and the food was really good. We also loved our 13 other shipmates who were all really cool. Although the feeling that we were somehow inconveniencing our guide and some of the crew continued for the next 5 days (it wasn’t just us, all the passengers received the same lovely treatment). A small price to pay for paradise…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r0ZHAQI1zKY/VgmmoD7iZII/AAAAAAAA4RI/aiGIKNIN3W8/s144-c-o/IMG_5704.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669569232200834″ caption=”Ah, paradise” type=”image” alt=”IMG_5704.jpg” ]

We got started right away with a trip to our first island a short hour ride away, Mosquera Islet. What is so cool about Galapagos is that even though it’s primarily a tourist destination, the Galapagos National Park Service monitors and allows only so many people to visit a site at one time, meaning that: A) they don’t tax the environment or scare away the animals, and B) you don’t see that many other tourists which makes the place feel that much more special. This was our first introduction to swimming with sea lions, and it was a blast. These guys are so curious and friendly, and we were the only boat there!
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sU9B8jsnVBI/VgmmoLaUZqI/AAAAAAAA4RI/Kz4fEKdRyS4/s144-c-o/IMG_2249.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669571240355490″ caption=”This guy was sunbathing next to us – Isla Mosquera” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2249.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nxuapJJ_ZwQ/VgmmoOhPgXI/AAAAAAAA4RE/3nKT11oDBwc/s144-c-o/IMG_2255.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669572074701170″ caption=”Lil friendly sea lion pup” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2255.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FqhcJlbS8eY/Vg6MqC8zkXI/AAAAAAAA4oU/9EmXEuNCgZQ/s144-c-o/GOPR0482.png” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6201048390910054770″ caption=”Swimming with our sea lion friends” type=”video” alt=”GOPR0482.MP4″ ]

We then settled in for a bumpy overnight ride to the west side of Isabela island. Each day we stopped at two sites on Isabela or Fernandino island and we were able to either snorkel and hike, or snorkel twice at different spots during that day. Some of my favorite animals are from this part of our cruise:

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5M1Cl1cPXWE/VgmmoN5goqI/AAAAAAAA4RI/wMdvZ2FuUUE/s144-c-o/IMG_2386.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669571908051618″ caption=”Penguin rock climbing” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2386.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0HFbYmWCA8k/VgmmoO56m8I/AAAAAAAA4nM/SaHdWlilhSw/s144-c-o/GOPR0106.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669572178189250″ caption=”Lots of sea turtle to swim with in the Galapagos” type=”image” alt=”GOPR0106.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v8XPD0XKroA/VgmmoJSx-LI/AAAAAAAA4ng/3x7CeguXpyw/s144-c-o/GOPR0395.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669570671868082″ caption=”A large manta ray swimming by” type=”image” alt=”GOPR0395.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FnUPOHpkYw4/VgmmoL3jWzI/AAAAAAAA4RI/eg7C1sr5ML0/s144-c-o/IMG_2532.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669571362970418″ caption=”Mr marine iguanas” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2532.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lJg6xRPpzuI/VgmmoOipY7I/AAAAAAAA4RI/vrFubawdzG4/s144-c-o/IMG_2628.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669572080591794″ caption=”One of the many deserted volcanic islands we got to hike through in the Galapagos” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2628.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AYLLJmn_G9k/VgmmoHANfTI/AAAAAAAA4RI/AO0YZ1uz3mc/s144-c-o/IMG_2648.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669570057108786″ caption=”Yellow land iguanas. He can't swim like his cousins, but he has adapted to hide in the brush” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2648.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cJLCRnd_V-c/VgmmoLUnNiI/AAAAAAAA4RI/d8r9_Z_ao84/s144-c-o/IMG_2656.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669571216422434″ caption=”One of Darwins famous finches. Each have adapted their beaks in different ways to their local food sources” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2656.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tDT7AkZ9jZ4/VgmmoBsJSKI/AAAAAAAA4RI/hisoE3DN-eA/s144-c-o/IMG_2027.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669568630769826″ caption=”Sea lion hanging out with his friend the fur seal – despite looking friendly these two didn't really enjoy eachothers company” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2027.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O6DE23NDn1U/VgmmoFmf0KI/AAAAAAAA4RI/MZHIu9xVf1I/s144-c-o/IMG_2719.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669569680822434″ caption=”What's up guys!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2719.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c9d-jQieI5I/VgmmoHSfueI/AAAAAAAA4RI/SUkM0VLwHtU/s144-c-o/IMG_2720.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669570133801442″ caption=”Oyster catcher hanging out with some crabs” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2720.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dlxwqYprFEc/VgmmoB6-oOI/AAAAAAAA4RE/JA4k30pOShs/s144-c-o/IMG_2675.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669568692986082″ caption=”Our hike up to the view point of Darwin's Lake on Isla Isabela” type=”image” alt=”IMG_2675.jpg” ]

Our last day we ended up at Chinese Hat (yes that’s the formal name of the island because it does indeed look like a chinese hat). This beach and the snorkling were amazing.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ou1OXiRoHNM/VgmmoGEy_ZI/AAAAAAAA4RI/mNDxHR3mI5Q/s144-c-o/IMG_5701.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669569807908242″ caption=”Our favorite spot – Chinese Hat (Isla Sombrero Chino)” type=”image” alt=”IMG_5701.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jvv–5Ql1F4/VgmmoF9uaAI/AAAAAAAA4RI/Rzg8z-n_DmI/s144-c-o/GOPR0599.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669569778247682″ caption=”Hello friend” type=”image” alt=”GOPR0599.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-690kOnF9z-8/VgmmoPW162I/AAAAAAAA4RI/uHOSu4cT-hs/s144-c-o/GOPR0589.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669572299516770″ caption=”This shark just got chased away by some sea lions!” type=”image” alt=”GOPR0589.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SVmvzbF2b34/VgmmoP3KlqI/AAAAAAAA4RE/_cMEnTYEzWE/s144-c-o/IMG_5727.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199669572435089058″ caption=”This guy wouldn't stop chasing Jenine – notice the shark in the water behind her” type=”image” alt=”IMG_5727.jpg” ]

What a way to cap off our Galapagos adventure. I learned so much about the animals who inhabit these stunning islands, and how they have adapted to survive the harsh environment presented by volcanic terrain. It reminds of me of two former cubicle-dwelling city-folk who decided to give up everything and live in a van traveling south through the Americas. As Charles Darwin once stated, “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change”

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8y3Km_2OPSY/Vgq4rHiUZUI/AAAAAAAA4iA/5qznQc1kL5A/s144-c-o/GalapagosSeaLife.png” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog38GalapagosIslandsEcuador#6199970887925785922″ caption=”Come under the sea with us – Galapagos, Ecuador” type=”video” alt=”GalapagosSeaLife.mov” ]

Many, many more pics of our time in Galapagos:
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