South American Adventure: The Galápagos

The Galápagos Islands are a part of Ecuador. They are located about 600 miles west of continental Ecuador. There are 13 major islands, 6 small islands and over 100 islets and rocks. The islands are volcanic like Hawaii. Being located on the equator, they are right where the northern and southern currents meet. The islands were discovered in 1535 by by Fray Thomas. In 1835 Charles Darwin arrived as a naturalist aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. The unique plants and animals he observed can still be seen.

Thursday, March 6th, we flew from Quito to San Cristobal Island in the Galápagos. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital of this island. The population of San Cristobal is about 12,000. It is the oldest and furthest east of the islands. Our flight was a little late, but our guide, Alfredo, always had a plan B. We got checked in to the Casa Opuntia hotel. Our rooms looked out on the boats in the bay and we could hear the sea lions on the beach calling to one another. They sounded a bit like sheep to me.

Aren't I pretty (and smelly too)?

After a quick lunch we took a boat out to Leon Dormido ( also called Kicker Rock) for some snorkeling.

We snorkel end along the wall of the big rock and then in the channel between the two rocks.

We saw turtles

We saw some spotted eagle rays

And we saw some hammerhead sharks. Sorry I couldn't get a clearer photo. I wasn't too keen on swimming after them.

Friday, March 7th, went to the Intrepretation Center where we walked through the history of the island from its discovery in 1535 to Charles Darwin's visit, to the establishment of the Galápagos as a national park. Frigate hill was the next stop on our hike.