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Ecuador Playa de Las Bachas

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  • 6 Months ‘Round the World
    13511
    Day 146

    Galapagos day 3 🦈

    April 26 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    We had a very early wake up call for a special optional itinerary event— snorkeling in deep water near North Seymour island to find hammerhead sharks. We all opted to go except the elderly couple and the girl and mom from the family so we loaded up the dinghy and headed out with Yazmany. The water was very choppy for snorkeling and at first we didn’t see much. We did come across some rays and white-tipped reef sharks sleeping on the bottom. But towards the end of our time hammerheads were spotted. There was a group of eight and they were smaller than I expected. It was very cool to see. Unfortunately the choppy waves made me seasick (more than the boat has so far).

    Back on board we had breakfast and I took some Dramamine. We had a hike next so headed to an island to see Frigatebirds. We got a sneak peek when one flew over us while snorkeling— they’re super quirky because of their big red pouches that inflate when they’re trying to attract a mate. It was pretty hot and humid and I definitely felt tired from the morning’s excitement.

    Lunch included encebolada, an Ecuadorian soup. Fortunately the meals on board are filling since they always include a starter, main, and a treat. Then we sailed and I attempted a nap.

    Our afternoon snorkel was to an island covered in sea lions. They come into the water and swim with you. It was fascinating but also a little scary since I’m used to staying away from sea lions. The ones on the island were pretty vocal and loud. There was a strong current so it was hard to control your distance from them (they try to come towards you) and one even smacked Henry as it swam by him. After we finished and got back on the boat, our guides told us that they didn’t come into the water with us because they were keeping a watch out for sharks! Obviously they chose not to tell us this until afterwards.

    We had our first “wet landing” (disembarking the dinghy onto the beach) to Santa Fe. Sea lions covered the beach including some very cute baby ones. Unlike at home they are completely unbothered by people. Most animals in the Galapagos are, because they don’t have many predators and don’t see humans as a threat. The island also had special cacti that look like trees and take hundreds of years to grow. And there’s a special Santa Fe iguana which looked similar to other islands’ iguanas but we tried to be suitable impressed.

    Dinner was delicious and then we all went to bed early.    Read more

  • 6 Months ‘Round the World
    21
    Day 144

    Galapagos day 1 🐢

    April 24 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    We got a ride back to the airport thanks to the hotel employee that drove us in his pickup. While standing in line to pay one of the Galapagos fees, we ran into a representative for the cruise company so we said hello and met another young American couple that will be on our cruise. We landed at a small airport on Baltra, went though immigration and biosecurity. and found our cruise guide. We met more fellow cruisers— a family from Boston and a young British woman. We took a quick bus ride to the port and then rode a dingy to our ship. It has 10 rooms and capacity for 16 but there are 13 of us. We were meant to have a twin room but the British woman (Emma) wanted to swap her double room so we did. We had lunch in the dining area of the ship which included a starter, main, and dessert and was very delicious.

    Once the second round of people had arrived and eaten we got on a dinghy and went back to shore to take a bus to a giant tortoise reserve. The tortoises were huge and can live up to 200 years. They move very slowly and eat all day. Next we went to the lava tunnels, which were formed when lava from a volcano cooled quicker on top but kept flowing underneath. We walked through the tunnel and had to do a crab walk for a small portion that was low to the ground.

    Back on the ship we had a briefing for tomorrow’s events and an introduction to all of the crew members on the boat. Then another very yummy dinner. The tables are set for 3-4 so we sat with Emma and Paddy, a British guy who had already been on the boat for 4 days because he’s doing two cruises back to back. After dinner the four of us stayed up chatting for a while. It’s nice that our group is fairly young (aside from one retired couple) because I don’t think that’s typical.    Read more

  • TravelerEcuador - Galapagos
    21111
    Day 21

    NORTH SEYMOUR and SANTA CRUZ

    February 18 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Trotz erheblichem Wellengang haben wir recht gut geschlafen. Um 6.15h gehts mit dem Panga (Gummiboot) an Land. Diese Insel ist bekannt für Fregattvögel und Blaufusstölpel. Wir haben Glück, wir sind am Ende der heissen Regenzeit. Alles isr grün und die Vögel sind in Paarungsstimmung. Deswegen sehen wir auch viekw Fregattvögel mit dem aufgeblasenen roten Kehlsack - dieser soll die Weibchen anlocken. Auch andere Vögel brüten bereits. Am späteren Nachmittag fahren wir mit den Gummibooten zu den Black Turtle Cove am Ufer von Santa Cruz. Dort sehen wir tatsächlich zwei Meeresschildkröten die sich im Wasser paaren. Im Wasser sieht man auch sehr viele junge Haie und Rochen die dort aufwachsen.Read more

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  • TravelerSüdamerika /Antarktis / Mexiko
    2524
    Day 466

    Galapagos Vulkan Tour

    January 12 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Die Insel San Isabela ist kaum besiedelt, so was von entspannt hier.
    Wir haben gehört, es sind 2/3 weniger Touristen hier, als in guten Jahren.

    Sonntag 12.01.

    Der frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm und so stehen wir wieder um 7 Uhr vor dem Hotel zur Vulkan Tour

    Mit dem Bus geht's 45 Minuten hoch zum Ausgangspunkt unserer heutigen 16 km Wanderung.😵‍💫
    Nach 4 km erreichen wir den Vulkan Sierra Negra, mit einem der größten Krater der Welt, mit einer Länge von ca. 9 km und Breite von 7 km.
    Galapagos ist eine der aktivsten Vulkanregionen der Erde.
    Wir haben schon einige Krater gesehen, aber der ist gewaltig.
    Von hier aus laufen wir durch die Lava Felder und der Regen beginnt.
    Eine unwirkliche Landschaft, faszinierend.
    Am Aussichtspunkt Vulkan Chico ist der Umkehrpunkt unserer Wanderung, nach zwei weiteren Stunden erreichen wir bitschl batschl nass unseren Shuttle Bus.

    Montag 13.01.

    Jetzt übertreibt's der Vogel, um 4:30 Uhr klingelt der Wecker. Um sechs Uhr geht unsere Fähre zurück nach Santa Cruz. Nachmittag fahren wir mit der Fähre weiter zur Insel San Christobal
    Die Überfahrt:
    Vier prachtvolle Motore und die lässt der Kapitän 2 1/2 Stunden Vollgas laufen. Der Nachbar beschwert sich und zieht sicherheitshalber nach hinten. Ansonsten ist auch bei den anderen Passagieren die Begeisterung nicht groß, nur eine schläft, Dagmar    Read more

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  • TravelerKiwi & Coconut Chronicles
    5
    Day 23

    Buoy Up, Certification Down

    November 27, 2024 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Just an hour after our previous dive, we stopped at North Seymour Island for the fourth and final dive of my Galapagos adventure - and the last one needed for my certification. The water here, like everywhere else, was full of life. This time, I spotted eels weaving through the rocks, trumpetfish gliding effortlessly, and cometfish darting about. Each dive seemed to bring something new.

    After about 50 minutes, my oxygen supply was running low. Anderson signaled it was time to ascend, but not before I completed my last drill - deploying the surface marker buoy. Carefully, I let the buoy rise to the surface, marking our location for the boat.

    We began our controlled ascent, pausing for three minutes at the 5-meter safety stop before finally breaching the surface. As if on cue, our boat was already there, guided by the buoy’s signal. Perfect timing.

    Back in Puerto Ayora, Anderson officially released my Open Water Diver certificate. A big thanks to Anderson for his excellent teaching, the unforgettable experience, and the amazing pictures and videos. Surely, this won’t be my last dive.    Read more

  • TravelerKiwi & Coconut Chronicles
    12
    Day 18

    Frigate Courtship Spectacle

    November 22, 2024 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    This morning, just before breakfast, we embarked on our final excursion in the Galapagos, landing on North Seymour Island. Though small and close to the airport, the island is brimming with wildlife, especially birds. The true stars of the morning were the frigate birds.

    Male frigate birds are a spectacle during mating season. They inflate their scarlet throat pouches into bright, balloon-like displays to capture the attention of passing females. To enhance the effect, they drum on their pouches with their beaks, creating a deep, resonant sound - a show of strength and allure in the competition for a mate.

    It was a fitting end to the cruise, witnessing such an iconic ritual of the islands. Next week, I’ll be dedicating my time in the Galapagos to earning my diving certificate. There probably won’t be many photos or adventures outside the water, but I’m excited for what awaits beneath the surface!    Read more

  • TravelerKiwi & Coconut Chronicles
    22
    Day 17

    Love Under Pressure

    November 21, 2024 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Today, we returned to familiar ground, visiting the Giant Tortoise Reserve and the Tortoise Research Center on Santa Cruz Island. This time, we were lucky to witness two giant tortoises mating - a fascinating but slightly uncomfortable sight. The male was significantly larger than the female, and the weight difference looked almost painful for her. We learned that this size disparity can even deform the female’s shell over time due to repeated mating.

    It’s always incredible to observe these ancient creatures in their natural habitat and learn about their biology. One of the most intriguing aspects of giant tortoises is how the temperature of their nests determines the sex of their hatchlings - a phenomenon known as temperature-dependent sex determination. At the Darwin Research Center, scientists use this to their advantage. Eggs incubated above 27.5°C yield female tortoises, while those incubated below 26°C produce males. This precise control helps maintain the population balance for conservation efforts.    Read more

  • TravelerKiwi & Coconut Chronicles
    1
    323
    Day 16

    Canvas of Cactus and Light

    November 20, 2024 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Today we explored Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island, a quiet but absolutely beautiful landscape of rugged terrain with green cacti and dry bushes. A nearby lagoon shimmered under the afternoon sun, its still surface becoming a canvas of cactus and light, reflecting the arid beauty surrounding it. Flamingos waded gracefully in the shallows while land iguanas basked along its edges. As the day turned golden, the area revealed itself as a perfect spot to watch the sun slip below the horizon.

    Before this tranquil moment, we had an incredible snorkeling adventure, easily the best so far. The water was alive with surprises: sleek sharks gliding past, stingrays hovering above the sandy bottom, and a curious eel peering from its rocky hiding spot. For the first time, I spotted an octopus, its ability to blend with the reef absolutely mesmerizing.    Read more

  • TravelerKiwi & Coconut Chronicles
    Day 7

    Walking Among Giants

    November 11, 2024 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Today we set foot in Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos, on Santa Cruz Island. Our first stop were two giant sinkholes which formed during volcanic activities on the island. I was stunned from the size of those holes and fascinated by the beautiful flora inhabiting those craters.
    This sight was then soon replaced by our next stunning stop at a giant tortoise reserve, where these incredible creatures roam freely. The reserve doesn’t feed or confine them in any way; it simply ensures the native plants support the tortoises diet and that predators are kept away. This allowed us to observe them in their natural habitat, watching them move and eat. It was fascinating to see how massive and unbothered they were, even with people nearby.

    After lunch at the reserve, we explored a massive lava tunnel created during the last volcanic eruption. From there, we took a short bus ride to the Darwin Research Center. The center tells the story of Darwin’s work, along with the legacy of Lonesome George, the last of his species, and highlights their efforts to protect and restore giant tortoise populations. Originally, 15 different species of these tortoises were known to live on the Galapagos islands, each on its own island; sadly, four have already gone extinct, making the center’s work crucial for conservation.

    On our way back to the port, we walked through the streets of Puerto Ayora, a city of about 12‘000 people. We stopped for some souvenir shopping, and, naturally, a cold beer to end the day.    Read more

  • TravelerKiwi & Coconut Chronicles
    2
    Day 4

    Black Dragons and Blue Feet

    November 8, 2024 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    This afternoon, we landed on Bachas Beach for some animal spotting. Sadly, we missed seeing the turtles themselves, though we did find their tracks leading from the beach into the sea. But the experience more than made up for it - we spotted so many birds, and even a flamingo! My personal favorites were the blue-footed boobies and the marine iguanas, which really do look like little black dragons.

    After a short, refreshing swim in the sea, we headed back to the boat, where a curious sea lion paid us a visit. Tonight, I’ll head to bed early while the captain navigates a seven-hour journey through the night to a northern Galapagos island. Tomorrow’s adventure awaits!    Read more

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