Galapagos 🐢🦀🐟🐠

Mike and Syl sweltering in the back seat of a police cruiser wasn’t the high point of our time in the Galapagos, but that’s another story.

The flight to Galapagos was super smooth — under two hours and no turbs. From the airport we took a bus then a ferry then a taxi to our hostel. Our first cab driver asked if we’d like to go to the giant tortoise ranch in Santa Rosa before going to the inn. Obviously! So we walked through some lava tunnels, then strolled through fields where enormous Galapagos tortoises were casually munching grass, walking... very... slowly..., warming in the sun or cooling in the pond. There were signs posted everywhere telling you to stay 2m away but it’s very tempting to sidle up closer. They are mesmerizing. 

Over the next few days we took tours to see birds — the blue footed boobie of course, Darwin’s finches, and many sea birds— as well as marine iguanas, seals and sea lions. We were able to stop and swim with sharks since they’re not at all aggressive towards humans. We saw a family of maybe ten cuddled in the mangroves. We weren’t in danger, but it’s still creepy. 

Our favorite was swimming with three big sea turtles. We glided above them and dove down to look closer. What a dream. I was proud of our hearty little family, that we could all swim in somewhat choppy waters decent distances. Other travellers sat out a few stops but the Cozzies got their money’s worth. 

Puerto Ayora is the city on Santa Cruz Island (pop. 25,000) and the waterfront has boardwalks with colourful lights at night, lots of people out strolling, overpriced restaurants, fantastic gelato, and many tour companies. Best of all, there are seals sleeping on the dock, sharks and sea turtles swimming nearby, sea turtles too, iguanas skittering by, and tons of birds keeping the town painted white. 

We spent our last day at Tortuga Bay. On one side of the dunes there is a safe swimmable (stunning) beach with soft white sand. Around the bend there is a long stretch of beach with very strong surf. There is also a little lagoon where you can swim with small sharks and marine iguanas . . . their motion is hilarious, tails working and arms jacked in constant push-up position. Those little guys are stockier than you’d think. Bulldog vibes. 

Anyway, it was an unforgettable excursion to the Galapagos. I highly recommended it if you like to see calm animals on their own turf. 

Next destination: Santiago, Chile.