To Galapagos

We met in the lobby at 4:20 am for a 4:30 am departure to the airport. The hotel had bag breakfasts for us that we could take through security and eat before we boarded the plane. We had a 7:45 am flight to Guayaquil, a city near the coast. The plane would refuel and a few more passengers would board for the hour and a half flight out to the Galapagos Islands. The plane flies out and back to Guayaquil without refueling in the Galapagos.

The airport on Baltra Island is a former US base. We clear customs here and pay the $200/person National Park fee that must be paid in cash.

Then we get on a bus for a short ride to the port and board the zodiacs. There is a sea lion sleeping on the dock.

Once on board the Yolita II, there is a quick briefing to go over some rules on the ship and to hand out room assignments. They put the checked bags in our rooms while we are meeting. We are the front most room on the port side on the main deck.

The main motion we feel is side-to-side rolling.

Lunch is served while we sail to Santa Cruz Island. After lunch, there is a little free time to unpack and then another briefing at 2:30 about National Park and then some snorkeling safety issues. Here’s the map of where we will stop in numbered order.

Then we quickly change into swimsuits for our first shore excursion at 3:30 to Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island. The name comes from the fact that the US military beached some barges here during WW2. The locals mangled the pronunciation of the word “barges” into Bachas.

We walked for 20-30 minutes along the beach and to a lagoon just behind the beach. There is a protected sea turtle breeding area just behind the beach, so you can only walk along a narrow path to the lagoon. The turtles have laid their eggs, but they haven’t hatched yet.

Then we went in the water snorkeling. The water was quite warm, there was a lot of wave action and sand suspended in the water with poor visibility. Donna didn’t stay in long. There were rocks that made shallows that could be a bit dangerous to snorkel nearby if you were not a strong swimmer very aware of your situation. That’s where the fish were.

I saw a couple small puffer fish while swimming.

Back to the boat at 5pm. We attempt to rinse sand off on the back platform while we get on the boat, but it’s everywhere. We take showers and then wipe the sand out of the shower. Sunset is blocked by some clouds.

At 6:30 welcome briefing that goes over tomorrow and introductions of the captain and crew (8 members) followed by dinner.