Ecuador
El Progreso

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    • Day 16

      Galapagos, das Naturwunder

      June 11, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

      Wir haben die Galapagos Inseln erreicht und sie sind so das Naturwunder, wie wir es uns erhofft haben.
      Ankunft in San Christobal mit ganz vielen Seelöwen und Meerechsen. Ausflug zur Isla Lobos mit Blaufußtöpeln und Fregatvögeln. Ein Traum!! Ach ja, Delfine haben unseren Ausflug begleitet und beim Schnorcheln haben die Seelöwen mit uns gespielt.Read more

    • Day 270

      Punta Pitt

      September 12, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

      Back you our early mornings, someone need to let the animals know its OK to have a lay in. We left the harbour around 7:30am with a few sea lions using the boat's wave to surf and jump like dolphins. Later on, we saw actual dolphins swimming with the boat, and one got so close that he splashed 3 of us on board. Another 2 hours boat ride and we arrive at our destination, Punta Pitt.

      First activity is snorkeling, this time we have long sleeves wetsuits, happy with that because the water is cold! Snorkeling was a bit wavy, but we managed to see some little sharks, turtles (of course), a lot of little fish and a lot of Doras. It was fun! We then had a moment to chill on the beach, but as a couple of sealions were playing in the water, Armelle went for another dip to play with them a bit, can't resist the sealion call!

      After a quick lunch, we lose the wetsuit and put on shorts and t-shirts to try to find the animal that we came here to see, the red footed boobie (fou à pates rouge). Yes there are a few types of boobies here in Galapagos 😏 The most common three are the blue footed, red footed and Nazca. This is the only place where we can see the nests of red footed boobies. They chose this place because it is windy, and therefore not a nesting place for frigate birds who are famous for stealing food from others, frigate birds don't make the best neighbours . We managed to find red footed boobies right by the path, instead of flying away they were intrigued by us and were e joying the view. Going close we could see that they have amazing colours, not just on the feet but also on the beak, blue beak with some pink! Still on the path we also found babies, and it is quite surprising that they are all grey, no colours yet for them as they don't need to mate!

      The landscape of Punta Pitt was also quite special, San Cristobal island is a lot older than the ones we've been on and we can see this in the erosion and the colours are not the same. Very nice day again in Galapagos always discovering something new!
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    • Day 519

      Highland Tour San Cristóbal

      May 7, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

      Auch das Landesinnere von San Cristóbal wollen wir nicht unentdeckt lassen. Deshalb haben wir für heute eine Highland Tour geplant. Dazu haben wir zusammen mit Sophia sowie Katja und Nico - die beiden hatten wir über Instagram und beim Schnorcheln in den letzten Tagen kennengelernt - ein Taxi angemietet. Der Fahrer bringt uns innerhalb von 4 1/2 Stunden zu 3 Zielen auf der Insel. Los geht's mit einem Stopp beim Schildkröten-Schutzzentrum Galapaguera. Hier werden die bedrohten Landschildkröten aufgezogen und geschützt. Die Landschildkröten auf San Cristóbal unterscheiden sich von denen auf den anderen Inseln durch einen längeren Hals und längere Beine. Diese durch die Evolution bedingte Unterscheidung liegt daran, dass die verfügbare Nahrung hier vergleichsweise weiter oben zu finden ist. Von kleinsten Babyschildkröten bis zu riesigen Exemplaren ist hier alles dabei.

      Der zweite Stopp ist am Strand Puerto Chino. Hier können wir uns im Meer etwas Abkühlung verschaffen, bevor es weiter zum zweithöchsten Punkt der Insel geht. Dieser dritte und letzte Stopp führt uns dann zur Lagune El Junco auf etwas über 700m Höhe. Die Lagune ist das einzige Süßwasser auf allen Galapagosinseln und somit eine Besonderheit. Mehrere Prachtfregattvögel kommen hier her, um sich das Salzwasser aus den Federn zu waschen. Wir umrunden die Lagune zu Fuß und genießen den Ausblick. Von hier oben kann man fast über die gesamte Insel blicken.

      Nach dem gelungenen letzten Ausflug auf Galapagos runden wir den Tag auch heute wieder mit dem Sonnenuntergang ab.
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    • Day 32

      Galapagos Cruise IV: San Cristóbal

      September 11, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

      San Cristóbal was the last island we would see, and luckily with a good night's sleep to start the day.
      Pitt Point is the easternmost point of the Galapagos Islands and amongst others, breeding ground for the third kind of boobie (the red footed this time). We went for a hike along the cliffs and then snorkeled from the beach. During lunch, we drive over to Cerro Brujo, which was in itself great as we finally had proper sunshine and could make use of the sun lounges. A flock of fregate birds was cruising mere meters above our heads.
      Cerro Brujo mainly featured a cool beach that we walked along, after which it was snorkel time again for the last time during the cruise.
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    • Day 188

      Galapagos pre-cruise

      April 2, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

      Highlights:
      - Seeing so many sea lions, crabs and iguanas as soon as we got into the town on San Cristobal island by the seafront and feeling like we were in a nature documentary!
      - Seeing our first blue footed booby on the first day and not believing it was happening
      - Spending our second day walking along a trail and stopping at various points to snorkel - the visibility wasn't great to start but the last place was amazing and our first time swimming with sea lions, and our first turtle and shark spotted
      - A visit to the interpretation centre to learn about the history of the Galapagos islands
      - Diving at kicker rock was an incredible experience as we got to swim with hammerhead sharks, other sharks, sea lions, a school of rays, and massive schools of fish
      - Snorkeling with a marine iguana and watching it feed and swim using its tail like a fish, then snorkeling with a huge turtle, and blue footed boobies dive bombing right next to us
      - Swimming at Tortuga bay on Santa Cruz island and seeing baby reef sharks and stingrays in the shallows

      Lowlights:
      - Our first hotel had stray dogs in the next street marking their territory so we had to take the long way round to get places!

      Food and drinks:
      - Managed to find cheap lunches for when we were fending for ourselves in San Cristobal!

      PS photos are of all Galapagos!
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    • Day 4

      Galápagos deel 2

      June 4, 2019 in Ecuador ⋅ 🌫 25 °C

      Na 2 dagen op Santa Cruz nemen we de ferry naar Isla Isabela. Op de steiger ligt het vol van de zonnebadende zeeleeuwen die de grappigste geluiden maken. We wandelen er voorbij naar hospedaje Sarita waar we even bekomen van de hevige boottocht. Daarna gaan we op verkenning. Het strand ligt op amper 200m van hier. Het is zo’n typisch parelwit tropisch strand dat je in de boekjes ziet. En er is helemaal niemand! Het strand loopt dan ook kilometers door, dus het volk kan zich mooi verspreiden.

      Na de lunch gaan we op zoek naar flamingo’s. Een houten pad kronkelt tussen enkele kleine meren en mangroves door. We passeren er een hele hoop leguanen, enkele roze flamingo’s en nog wat andere vogelsoorten. Het pad eindigt aan een kweekcentrum voor reuzenschildpadden. Indrukwekkende dieren zijn het. Nog veel groter dan de waterschildpadden waartussen we gesnorkeld hebben.

      De volgende dag huren we snorkelgerief en stappen we naar Concha Perla. In deze kleine baai, vlak aan de haven, duiken we het water in met een tiental andere toeristen. Geen schildpadden hier, maar wel veel vissen en een gigantische rog. Tot mijn verbazing zie ik plots een pinguïn in het water duiken. Ik kom boven water om Vé te waarschuwen, maar eer ik terug onder ga is het beestje al verdwenen. Jammer. Daarna ploffen we ons op een strand. Beach time!

      Ook op Isabela blijven we maar 2 dagen. Een ferry brengt ons terug naar Santa Cruz en enkele uren later stappen we op de volgende boot naar San Cristóbal. Tientallen zeeleeuwen en krabben verwelkomen ons op de pier van Puerto Baquerizo. We boeken direct een snorkeltour voor de dag erop. Hopelijk wordt die even mooi als onze eerste!

      Met een groep van 9 snorkelaars, 1 duiker en gids Dennisse stappen we in een boot. Na 40 minuten varen komen we aan de rotsformatie Kicker Rock (de Engelse naam) of Leon Dormido (in het Spaans). Je hebt toch wat verbeelding nodig om er een schoppende schoen of een slapende leeuw in te zien.

      Iedereen trekt zijn wetsuit en snorkelmateriaal aan en dan vertrekken we voor een eerste sessie van 1 uur. Het water is hier een heel pak dieper dan op onze vorige tocht. Tussen de 10 en 20 meter. We zwemmen door een smal kanaal tussen de rotsen waar we al heel wat vissen en een eerste zeeschildpad zien. Er zouden hier ook babyhaaien moeten zitten maar die zijn wellicht aan een siësta bezig.

      In het brede kanaal wat verderop hebben we meer succes. Eerst zien we 4 gevlekte adelaarsroggen en dan een zwartpuntrifhaai en een hamerhaai. Wat een beesten zeg! We kruipen terug aan boord en doen een klein toertje om wat vogels te spotten. Er vliegen veel pelikanen, red footed boobies en fregatvogels rond. De mannetjes van deze laatste soort kunnen een opvallende rode blaas maken van hun keel, maar dat doen ze alleen in de paartijd. Deze vogels stelen trouwens vis van andere soorten omdat ze zelf niet kunnen duiken in het water. Hun verenkleed is niet waterafstotend waardoor ze niet kunnen opstijgen als ze in de zee terechtkomen.

      Tijd voor een tweede snorkelpartij. Deze keer aan de andere kant van Kicker Rock. We zien tientallen zeeschildpadden, een school tonijn en nog 2 hamerhaaien. Dan meert de boot aan op Playa Cerro Brujo, een van de mooiste stranden van het eiland. We wandelen een halfuurtje rond met Dennisse. In een ondiepe plas liggen enkele zeeleeuwen te spelen. Wat meer naar het binnenland ontdekken we een mooie oranje-bruine lagune tussen het vulkanisch gesteente. Daarna krijgen we nog een halfuurtje vrije tijd om te zwemmen of te zonnen en dan keren we terug naar Puerto Baquerizo. Alweer een geslaagde snorkeltrip!

      De dag erop verkennen we het eiland op ons zelf. We wandelen langs een standbeeld van Charles Darwin naar Playa Mann. Daar spelen zeeleeuwen in de zee of liggen ze gezellig tegen elkaar genesteld op het strand. Iets verderop ligt Playa Punta Carola verscholen tussen de struiken. Het contrast tussen het witte zand, de zwarte rotsen en de verschillende tinten blauw in het water is prachtig. We zien een reiger in actie die een kleine leguaan probeert op te eten. Het diertje spartelt fel tegen maar kan uiteindelijk niet ontkomen aan de sterke bek.

      Een smal paadje loopt van het strand naar Cerro Tijeretas. Deze heuvel is vernoemd naar de fregatvogels (tijeretas in het Spaans) die hier regelmatig rondzweven. We hebben een mooi uitzicht op de stranden in de omgeving. Ik wandel nog even door naar een laatste strand, Playa Baquerizo.

      Daarna keren we terug naar Playa Mann, waar we ons in het zand ploffen. De eigenaar van een terras jaagt enkele zeeleeuwen weg om te kuisen, waardoor de beestjes vlak bij mij komen zitten. Zalig toch, dat je her gewoon tussen die dieren kan vertoeven. Ze hebben geen schrik en de kleinste van de hoop komt zelfs eens aan onze sletsen ruiken vooraleer hij het water in waggelt.

      De laatste dag trek ik erop uit naar Playa La Lobería. Vé doet ondertussen een siësta op de kamer. Ook dit strand past weer perfect in het rijtje “tropische witte stranden met azuurblauw water en vulkanische rotsen”. Er ligt heel wat volk te snorkelen of te zonnen op het zand. Ik stap nog een kilometer verder naar Las Negritas, een afgelegen uitkijkpunt op een hoge klif.

      De golven slaan woest in op de kust waar krabben en leguanen op de rotsen kruipen. Een mooie vogel met rode kringen rond de ogen ligt te rusten op enkele meters van mij. Boven het water cirkelen 2 elegante roodsnavelkeerkringvogels. Ze lijken op witte meeuwen met een rode bek, zwarte oogschaduw en een hele lange fijne staart. Ik geniet een minuut of 10 van de rust en keer dan terug naar La Lobería voor een frisse duik in het water.

      Na 7 dagen springen we terug op het vliegtuig richting Guayaquil. De Galápagos zijn een echt paradijs! We gaan dit bezoek niet snel vergeten…

      Nog een laatste filmpje: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ehK7HjACVFPepejY7
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    • Day 95

      San Cristóbal 360° tour Galápagos

      February 4, 2020 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

      Today we took a whole day boat trip around San Cristóbal Island, stopping at beautiful beaches, snorkeling spots and 'kicker rock' (named by Charles Darwin, as when he look at it it reminded him of a football boot ⚽. Kicker rock is a large volcanic rock with a distinctive shape and most importantly known for its wildlife that surrounds it in the waters between the channel in the rocks we saw soo many different types of marine fish; barracudas and rainbow fish 🐠🌈 we also managed to spot, lobsters, crabs, rays, sea lions and apparently there was a hammerhead shark close to the surface but we missed it 🦈😭... Next time we'll see one! As kicker rock is quit dangerous for snorkeling we had to follow our tour guide closely as possible as the tide is very rough, we also made it through the 2 rocks, through the channel which was scary but fun as the tide raised and feel so quickly, and we had to swim hard to get out. But while in there we saw 3 rays swimming below us, twisting and turning 🐟🐠😁 as we swam for 40mins around the kicker rock we ran into lots of jellyfish and got unavoidably stung! As they were mini ones just everywhere! 😳 On the return to the boat be saw a sea lion and I managed to swim alongside a turtle... Which was so awesome given the clear water conditions 😁😜 one of stops that day was the beautiful paradise beach of Cerro Brujo... It's without doubt the best beach we've ever been on! Be had lunch here, did some flips and turns off the boat into the sea and then had free time to snorkel and enjoy this piece of paradise. We were joined by a sealion of course, as they're absolutely everywhere on the galapagos... Just popping up in the water next to you when you least expect it lol 😂. On the day 360° we also visited islands to spot blue footed boobies and see a possible galapagos penguin! 🐧Read more

    • Day 123

      San Cristobal, Galápagos 🤩

      December 5, 2021 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      FASZINATION PUR! 🤩
      Mer hend emmer gwösst, dass es sehr schön muess sii uf dene Insle, aber wie speziell dass es wörkli esch, merkt mer erst vor Ort. Sowohl d‘Landschaft als au d‘Tierwelt send extrem idrücklich ond s‘esch unglaublich schön, wie nöch mer de Tier esch, well sie eifach kei Angst hend vorem „Mensch“.
      Egal wo mer herelauft, s‘het ganz sicher en Seeleu irgendwo ond au im Wasser chan mer met ihne schwömme. Sie send extrem neugierig ond chömed einem ganz nöch. 😍
      Be eusem Usflug höt zum León dormido hemmer nebst Fischschwärm, unzählige Schildchrötli ond chline Riffhaie au no Delfine ond en Buckelwal dörfe bestuune. Mer gnüssed jedi Sekunde a dem echt MAGISCHE Ort! ☺️
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    • Day 264

      IV. SA Ecuador/W4b, 5d: Galapagos 2 EN

      May 20, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

      The Galapagos Islands:
      Probably the world's most amazing cage-less zoo, most of the animals are endemic and sooo close up to just half a metre so that you do not even need biniculars to watch the unique unusual characteristics and behaviours of island birds, reptiles, mammals and marine life that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, 1 in 4 endemic species live here. Many do not have natural predators, are ecologically naive, virtually fearless and uneffected by visitors which explains that they come so close. You will definitively be visually and intelectually stimulated by the beauty, natural history and evolutionary processes of these islands.
      The 7,800km land area have been declared as the world's first natural world heritage site in 1978, UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1984 and the Galapagos Marine Resources Reserve is the 2nd largest marine reserve in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
      The population of the four inhabited islands (Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal and Floreana) is controlled by regulating the numbers of permanent residents and by limiting the stay of temporary residents (tourists, volunteers, workers) to 6m. There are only 50 visitor sites which can all only be seen during daylight from 6am-6pm. Heavy rules are installed such as no eating, drinking, smoking, touching/feeding/chasing/flash photographing of plants and animals, removing items, venturing of the trail as well as restricted fishing and no water and jet-skiing.

      The most common animal types are:
      - Reptiles:
      giant tortoises, marine and land iguanas, lava lizard
      green sea turtle
      - Mammals: Galapagos sea lion
      - Birds:
      Land birds (seen inland, feed on land):
      Galapagos Hawk and Darwin finches
      Shore birds (farther inland, shores and mangroves):
      Lava Heron
      Sea birds (nest on land but feed fish and squid):
      Flightless cormorant, waved albatross, G Penguin
      Blue Red Nazca Boobies
      Frigatebird, red skin flaps inflate to football-size baloons in 25m to atrract females
      - Marine life world-class snorkeling and diving
      Sally lightfoot crabs
      White- and black-tipped reef shark, G, hammerhead,
      whale
      Manta, golden, spotted eagle, sting ray
      Fish, sharks, rays

      Land-based vs cruise
      Positive:
      - Cheaper
      - Hotel no shaking, all facilities restaurants entertai
      Negative:
      - Time consuming going back and forth on day trips
      - limited to close, central islands
      - Only 1 site a day never early or late

      Fr, 19.05 Baltra, Eden
      If you visit the Galapagos Islands you will spent a lot of money anyway - so spent it wisely and invest in a cruise, it is just so much better than island hopping and absolutely worth it. With $600 for a 4d cruise I got a relatively good deal within the 3rd category tourist superior (there are luxury, first class, tourist superior, tourist and economy) but you are better off spending a bit more for having a less shaking and more stable boat, more space and better food.
      Our boat 'Solitero George' was simply amazing: nice clean cabins with windows and private bathroom including hot showers, sun deck, common and dining room with a small bar, pretty good snorkeling equipment and an amazing, if not to say best cook ever. The whole crew was just incredible and really looked well after us and the group of 16 people was quite young and international apart from an elderly Chilenean couple but they were also really nice. At the age of 25 it was my very first cruise and I was happy to see that there were also other solo travellers and not just couples and elderly.
      In total we were 16 guests (Cherman from Hong Kong with who I was sharing a cabin, Chilenean couple Osvaldo y Antonia, Austrian-Swiss couple Gonca y Patrick, Australian couple Lima y Emilia, 2 Brits guys and 1 Danish girl Charlie, David and Senka, 4 Swiss Toni, Lukas, Jael, Yadena and 1 German guy from Hamburg Luk. The crew was about 9 members
      (Billy and William guides, Ricardo dive master, Angel captain, Wilson barman/cleaner, Victor cook, Osvaldo and Jonathan sailors and Richard engineer).
      After our first amazing lunch of chicken, salad, rice and beans with a good orange desert and a short introduction we went to our first snorkeling spot in Eden where we already saw many fishes, sting rays and also a sea turtle. On the land we could also already spot the first blue footed boobies.
      Coming back we got a yummy snack of yuca and green bananas, I had an incredibly hot shower well deserved after snorkeling in the pretty cold ocean and then enjoyed a delicious tuna dinner with potatoes, green beans, vegetables, salad with strawberry covered in white sauce as desert.
      After sunset our boat was followed by 3 1,5m long Galapagos sharks, many night birds and sooo many stars - I just lay down until 10pm to soak it all in and fully enjoy the moment :)

      Sa, 20.05. North Seymour & South Plaza
      After a pretty awesome morning breakfast with hot chocolate, orange juice, cereals, strawberry yoghurt, dark toast, scrambled eggs and even 3 different types of cheese, chicken and ham we reached North Seymour Island which is known for a large number of
      frigatebirds, black birds with the male inflating its red baloon to impress the female. On our 2h hike we were very lucky to see 7 of them at the same place fully inflated, it is only done 2x a year. As its feathers are not waterproof it cannot fish and thus constantly chases boobies to steel their food - that is the reason why they are also called pirates of the sky. We also saw pelicans and blue-footed boobies which all can get 10-15y old; Albatros and flamingos can reach the age of 40. On the way back we also spotted some yellow land iguanas that are originally from Baltra and can get as old as 60-70y.
      Back on board we got treated with some oreos and crisps to regain energy for the snorkeling trip where we saw again many animals such as sea lions, turtles and even a hammerhead shark and eagle rays. Again, it was really windy with many waves and rather cold water so I really appreciated my hot shower afterwards.
      For lunch we had an amazing spaghetti shrimp dish with salad, vegetables and yummy fruit desert - it is a pure luxury to get healthy and tasty salads, fruits and vegetables; doesn't happen too often in these heavily on meat based South American countries :P
      After enjoying some free time and a good siesta we reached the Plazas Islands east of Santa Cruz in the early afternoon. North Plazas is only used for research and South Plazas known for its black land iguanas and sea lions - we were again quite lucky and got to see an only 5m old cute baby. However, never trust a sea lion: they can be really fast, you should never stand on their territory and as soon as they start barking swim away or float, never show your leg and never circle babies even though they will try to steal your flippers, snorkels or even bikinis :O We then continued further to the cliff formation to see many pelicans and to get a panoramic view of the landscape and the bachelor sea lion colony. This island is also the only place where land and marine iguana cross and might interbreed with each other. The birds nestling at the pretty windy and cold cliff were following our boat at night because the splashing gets out the shrimp and they have to feed their babies at night. Again, I have to stress that traveling is the best uni in the world: you just get so much info and can directly see the theory in practice :)))
      Back aboard we got another snack, this time the yummi maduro con queso (cooked banana with cheese), I enjoyed the best sunset while taking a shower and then another delicious dinner.
      We had to cover quite a far distance that night (10-12h), mainly on open water: oh yes, the boat was shaking a lot - I had the feeling of being drunk, walking around and especially down the stairs was more than a challenge and best is not moving around too much and laying on the stomach; I was again quite lucky and did not get any motion or sea sickness.

      Su, 21.05. San Cristobal
      As usual I woke up quite early around 5am and we had already ankered. I took the chance, made a hot chocolate and enjoyed a nice sunrise with amazing colours and a first glimpse of Kicker Rock, a famous cliff formation north-west of San Cristobal and known as outstanding dive and snorkeling spot.
      Around 8am we had a wet landing on Witch Hill, a beautiful white coloured beach with crystal-clear blue water, mountains and volcanic scenery plus lava flow in the background. We had more than 3h for swimming, sunbathing, walking along the beach, reading, relaxing etc. Being a nesting area of sea turtles and sea lions we even got the chance to swim and snorkel with them, an amazing experience :)))
      After a delicious typical Cerdo de pollo lunch with watermelon as desert we made all the way up to Pitt Point located north-east of San Cristobal and one of the only two places to see the red-footed boobies (after the north island Genovesa). The landscape was amazing and around 3pm we had another wet landing at Green Colour Beach where we were directly greeted by sea lions. It was also one of my highlights as it was an amazing 2h uphill hike or climb on the volcanic arch with 360* view of the surrounding oceans, mountains and volcanos and the nestling place of the red-footed boobies. In total, there are 3 types of boobies all of which can only be found here at Pitt Point: blue-footed (nestling on ground, 3 eggs, 10-15,000; known for its dancing), red-footed (nestling on bush, 1 egg, 200,000) and Nazca/Masked boobie (nestling on cliff, 2 eggs, 10,000). The blue colour only comes with sexual maturity after 2-3y and the better fed and blood circulated the darker the blue, directly after diving the feet are black.
      For dinner we got treated with an amazing fish shrimp dish with salad, brokoli, potatoes and rice and a pretty yummy lemon cake. As it was the last evening there was also a toast with the whole crew including salsa dancing afterwards :)))

      Mo, 22.05. San Cristobal - Baltra/Santa Cruz
      On Monday we had to go again all the way back to the Canal between Baltra and Santa Cruz - another pretty shaky 10-12h at night but I am a really fortunate sleeper ;)
      On our snorkeling trip in the morning we had a final highlight by seeing many sharks and an abundant variety of pretty colourful fishes, had a last delicious breakfast, some more free time and then had to say goodbye to Solitero George and the lovely crew members, having had a real blast these 4 days :)))

      So what where my highlights?
      - Coming close to the Galapagos Giant Tortoises
      - Seeing so many land and marine iguanas
      - Swimming with sea lions, sea turtles and penguins
      - Snorkeling/encountering sharks and manta rays
      - Coming face to face with blue- and even red-footed
      boobies
      - Gazing at the incredibly inflated red baloons of fragate birds
      - Bird watching of pelicans and others
      - Gaze upon wild flamingos
      - Touring deserted islands with delicious sea food
      - Falling in love with Isabela Island
      - Hiking up an active volcano
      - Climbing and snorkeling through lava tunels
      - Relaxing at Ecuador's nicest beach Tortuga Bay

      The Galapagos Islands are indeed pretty expensive and you have to calculate $100/d (3-4 times of my usual daily budget) if you want to see and do something - but it was worth every cent; and after all, YOLO You Only Live Once and if you are already here in Ecuador there is just no excuse not to do it; there is just nothing comparable in the whole world and I am so glad that I did it, both island hopping and a small cruise - plus I got an awesome tortoise and hammerhead shark stamp in my passport :)))
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    • Day 215

      Galapagos / San Cristobal - D4

      October 13, 2018 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

      In the morning we had a boat transfer from Santa Cruz to San Cristobal. During that we saw a lot of birds and dolphins. Our host Pepe picked us up from the port and showed us around. He is an amazing host! San Cristobal is different than Santa Cruz with different plants and vegetation and also is the island of Hernandez's 😋 they all love to pose for pictures!!
      In the afternoon we went for a small hike to Playa Puenta Carola, went snorkeling with sea lions at Bahia Tijeretas and Playa Baquerizo. The sunset was beautiful with a delicious Endémica - craft beer, of course endemic, to the Galapagos. 🍻
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