Galapagos Islands

We've returned to Chile after spending a full week on and around the Galapagos Islands, which might as well be another planet. Our tour was through Celebrity. Though the kids wish it weren't so, I (Carol) am a very (VERY!) reluctant cruise passenger. The boat part of this trip was far better than I expected it to be. The islands, of course, were amazing but the boat part was really good too! I'm not going to go around jumping on cruises all the time but I did appreciate the experience. We were on their 100 passenger ship, which gave the kids room to get into a little mischief and the adults deniability for having witnessed said mischief. When we were off the boat, we were in groups of fewer than 16 people, with a naturalist for each group. We had two outings each day, at different spots. There were hikes, beach walks, snorkeling from the beach and in deep water. All of the naturalists are from the Galapagos and are passionate and excited about their home.

The photos tell the story, so I won't write much more. 

Monday: Española Island
Morning beach walk at Gardner Bay

We saw sea lions everywhere on our first beach walk

Cameron, James, Allison and Charlotte cooling off

Who wants to be a sea lion?

Male marine iguanas are so beautiful during mating season
They also stare off into the distance, thinking deep thoughts

Monday: Española Island
Afternoon hike at Punta Suarez

Marine iguana swimming to shore

Find the sea lions and iguanas. There are more than you think

Iguana don't care if people want to walk by

One male and two female iguanas

Iguanas and sea lions, sunbathing together

The smaller sea lions are babies

It was as hot as this photo looks

Clifftop selfie

Love this one except for the fly on my forehead

Charllison!

Juvenile albatross. We were lucky to see one

Adult and baby Nazca Boobies
Baby boobie is fun to say

Adult and baby Nazca boobies below,
marine iguana above

Nursing sea lion pup

Time for a nap!

Tuesday: Floreana Island
Long walk and beach snorkeling at Punta Cormorant

The beach walk was

One of my faves. These guys are so cute!

These Galapos cacti are like prickly pears on a tall tree trunk.
They are giant - some up to 10 meters tall

I didn't take any photos while snorkeling but you can just
make out the sea turtle underwater in this photo

Happy kids with sandy beach feet

Afternoon walk to Post Office Bay and zodiac ride

The beautiful clear water and ever-present sea lions

Volcanic beach

One of my favorite things about watching sea lions was watching them lazily roll in and out with the waves on the beach. It's tough to see in this video but the sea lion here has a pretty large half circle scar on her side from a shark. Somehow she survived.

Wednesday: Isabela Island
Morning hike at Punta Moreno
Sadly, our morning hike was cancelled because of rough seas. On the bright side, we got to tour the bridge. The girls wasted no time taking the helm.

Afternoon hike and beach snorkeling at Urbina Bay
The beach walk was great fun, especially because we saw giant tortoises for the first time. We also had a little run in with some jelly fish. Not the most fun.

Tortoise!!

Land iguanas are bigger than marine iguanas and their
tails aren't made for swimming

I love every single tortoise I saw

Look at his toes!

RIP, buddy

This coral was underground until a volcanic
uplift event in 1973 (pretty sure on that date :)
when it was pushed to the surface and now it
sits on top of a hill

John enjoying the walk

Sally Lightfoot Crabs were everywhere

Thursday: Fernandina Island and back to Isabela Island
Morning walk at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island and deep-water snorkeling 
We saw our first sea turtle underwater on this snorkel, and lots of other fish, too. The hike was spectacular!

This isn't just a bunch of rocks

Allison and me

Three little lava lizards

Iguana contemplating life 

Hiking over volcanic rock

Allison, John, Cameron

Lots of Sally Lightfoot crabs

Again, looks like just a bunch of rocks but so many iguanas

Looks like he's going to move through the crack

Looks like he just stopped walking one day

Cute baby sea lion and iguana friends

Flightless Cormorant stretching what's
left of its wings

Afternoon deep-water snorkeling at Punta Vicenta Roca off of Isabela Island and zodiac ride

The photos are only from the zodiac ride. The snorkeling was grand, though. Allison and I went together and every time we turned our heads, we saw another sea turtle. The cove we were swimming in is a resting place for them. We were also lucky enough to see a penguin zipping back and forth underwater.

The zodiac ride was in the cove where we snorkeled and these photos are mostly of the beautiful rock face and the birds that nest and rest on it.

Galapagos penguins

Cameron, Tim and Charlotte with rock face
and cave behind them

Charlotte, Allison, Cameron, Elizabeth, Tim and James

I never really got a great picture of the Blue Footed Boobie's
blue feet. You're gonna have to trust me on this one. They were blue.

Two Blue Footed Boobies. Can't see them too well
but the rock face was stunning

Flightless cormorants not flying

Allison and Cameron with the Celebrity Xpedition behind

John and Carol

Friday: South Plazas, Santa Cruz Island

Morning walk at South Plazas on Santa Cruz Island
These photos are from our morning walk. We also did a beautiful walk near Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz and for some reason I can't recall, I don't have any photos from the second walk.

Lava heron

Sea lion resting under a bush with his flippers showing
If you look closely, you can see that they have toenails

Catching a few rays

Enjoying a cactus leaf together

Saturday: Santa Cruz Island

Charles Darwin Research Center, visit to Puerto Ayora, tree planting, highlands walk
Our last day exploring the Galapagos. It went so quickly!

Fish market in Puerto Ayora.
Notice the mascot under the table

Lots of buddies for the people who might have fish scraps

Walking up to plant Scalesia trees for a
reforestation project on Santa Cruz

Charlotte

Cameron

Our lunch in the highlands of Santa Cruz

Tortoises. I lost count of how many we saw on our short walk

I love them all. Every single one.

Our guide, Orlando, with tortoises behind

When they move their heads, you can hear the air moving
in and out of their shells. Kind of like a bellows for a fireplace

Look at him! 

Smaller tortoise, probably about 50 years old

Look at this guy! Probably about 120 years old

It looks like we are touching him but I promise we aren't.
We were probably about two meters behind him.
He's just that large!