Amazing Galapagos

Charlotte & Graham's Travels

Amazing Galapagos

We have just spent the last 12 days in the wonderful Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos archipelago lies 600 miles due west of mainland Ecuador and is a province of that South American republic. The equator runs through the northernmost islands.

The first 8 days were aboard the Beagle. Named after HMS Beagle, on which Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands, the 105-foot 14 passenger brigantine was a lovely way to explore the islands. We typically sailed at night to our next destination and were taken ashore on zodiacs for hiking and exploring – most of the islands are uninhabited. When not ashore, we had the chance to snorkel in the sea – an extraordinary experience. The crew, guide and cuisine on the Beagle were also excellent.

The Beagle

The last four days were spent in a hotel on Santa Cruz, the most populated of the islands.

The Galapagos Islands are all about the amazing and unusual wildlife. Many of the species are not found anywhere else in the world and the great variety of animal and plant life can be attributed to the wide range of habitats on and around the Islands.

Galapagos is also extraordinary because of the unique experience one has while visiting it. Because it was so isolated for so long, Galapagos wildlife never developed a fear of humans, making the abundant wildlife extremely accessible.

We were lucky to see such animals as the giant tortoises, land and marine Iguanas, the islands’ famous blue-footed boobies, penguins, flamingoes, albatrosses, multi-coloured crabs and other unique and interesting birds.

Giant Round Shell Tortoise and Charlotte!

Santa Fe Land Iguana

Blue-footed Booby Nesting with Chick and Egg

Flamingo Feeding in the Evening Sun

Pelican

Sally Lightfoot Crab

Male Frigate Bird with Mating Plummage

Painted Locust

Yellow Warbler Bird

We also swam with sharks, sea lions, penguins, turtles and many different types of tropical fish and paddled in the sea while stingrays and baby sharks swam by our feet! Below are a few photos that hopefully will give you a flavour of the sea life and landscape of these amazing islands.

Juvenile Sea Lion Swimming