Galapagos, Ecuador - April 2005

Flight to Quito

Flew though Houston and then to Quito on Continental. Possibly the worst airline food on record with the "Philly Cheese steak" which was an oval hamburger hot pocket thing. Another (shorter) option would have been American which goes though Miami and straight down to Quito. Alas, the frequent flyer miles dictated Continental.

Day 2 - Fly to Galapagos, San Cristóbal

Flight

Flights to Galapagos were totally messed up. They took two flights and combined them so we departed an hour later. Landed in Guayaquil and were asked to get off the plane (normally would have stayed on and continued to Galapagos) so they could count us. We reboarded and then flew to Baltra because it was now a combined flight, then we went on to San Cristóbal. We landed hours beyond the original schedule in 8 million degree weather and queued up to go through customs where they check everyone's claim tickets to prevent stolen luggage. We went though last and they still scrutinized ours.

San Cristóbal, Galapagueria

Loaded up on sun screen and boarded the mini van with the group and headed towards the Galapagueria. After that, we departed the island and its little city on the shore for the boat (once was named the Ahamara, now renamed Galapagos Vision, despite name changes are bad luck) and were shown to our rooms.

Day 3 - San Cristóbal, Isla Lobos, Kicker Rock

At dawn, the boat revved its motors and we were departing the city and busy port for a more remote area. Remote as in 7000 people less and countless sea lions!

7:00 Breakfast
7:45 Wet landing to paddle from Ochoa Beach to Isla Lobos
10:15 Back on Board
10:45 Snorkle Isla Lobos
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Dry landing to Hike Isla Lobos
2:30 back on board, motor to Kicker Rock, Snorkle, Kayak

Day 4 - Isla Española

6:30 Wet landing on Gardner Beach
8:00 Back on Board
8:15 Breakfast
9:00 Snorkeling Turtle Rock
10:00 Back on Board
10:30 Paddling along the cliffs of Española
1:00 Lunch
3:30 Dry landing on Puerta Suarez
6:00 Back on Board

Day 5 - Isla Floreana

5:30 am Wake Up
6:00 Sunrise Paddle
8:00 Wet landing on Post Office Bay
10:15 Back on Board
10:45 Kayak Punta Cormorant to Barones View Point
1:00 Lunch
2:30 Snorkel at Devil's Crown
3:30 Back on Board
4:00 Disembark at Punta Cormorant: Flamingos

Day 6 - Santa Fé, Santa Cruz

7:00 Breakfast
7:45 Wet landing toSanta Fé
9:00 Back on Board
9:15 Snorkeling next to boat near walk.
10:30 Paddling along cliffs of Santa Fé (paddle for the sake of paddling - uneventful and not visually stimulating)
1:00 Lunch and motor to Santa Cruz
2:45 Dry landing to Charles Darwin Center
6:30 Back on Board

Day 7 - Isla Santiago

7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Wet landing on Puerto Egas Black Sand Beach
followed by Snorkel
11:45 Back on Board
12:15 Lunch
2:30 Paddling along the Coast of Santiago
5:30 Navigation to Bartolomé, see manta rays (but not dolphins like hoped)

Day 8 - Bartolomé, Chinese Hat

5:30 Wake up call
6:00 Sunrise hike, and zodiac to penguins
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Kayak around Bainbridge Islands to Sombrero Chino
11:30 Snorkel at Chinese Hat
1:00 Lunch
2:00 Sail to San Cristóbal