2. Around The World
  3. Ecuador, South America

Galapagos (July 2009)

A mish-mash 4-day tour of Isla Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) in the Galapagos. Flew in on Monday, stayed in Puerto Ayora, toured the Academy Bay on Tuesday, dove Gordon Rocks on Wed, and flew home on Thursday.
We were too cheap to pay for a dedicated 5-day tour, but we had some spare time in Ecuador so we spent the money to get there (the flight to Galapagos cost as much as our flight from Miami to Quito). Our aim was to see if we could do a self-guided tour of the place. The Lonely Planet didn't seem to think so and most other agreed. But we survived.
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  • First stop on our Galapagos tour: Primicias ranch, a giant tortoise farm

    First stop on our Galapagos tour: Primicias ranch, a giant tortoise farm

  • Julie gets up close to this big guy while he chomps into some grass

    Julie gets up close to this big guy while he chomps into some grass

  • This fella was pretty much the biggest one we saw. Our guide said he could weigh up to 500kg.

    This fella was pretty much the biggest one we saw. Our guide said he could weigh up to 500kg.

  • tortoises copulating. apparently a very time-consuming task.

    tortoises copulating. apparently a very time-consuming task.

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  • Julie wriggles into an old tortoise shell

    Julie wriggles into an old tortoise shell

  • and then Andrew does his best impression of a big turtle

    and then Andrew does his best impression of a big turtle

  • inside the lava tubes

    inside the lava tubes

  • Lava tubes form when the outer surface of a lava flow cools and hardens, while the hot interior continues flowing out.

    Lava tubes form when the outer surface of a lava flow cools and hardens, while the hot interior continues flowing out.

  • Puerto Ayora's fish market - nearly every guide book lists it as a recommended spot to see birdlife

    Puerto Ayora's fish market - nearly every guide book lists it as a recommended spot to see birdlife

  • The action at the Puerto Ayora fish market. This scene was exactly what I'd hoped to experience in Galapagos.

    The action at the Puerto Ayora fish market. This scene was exactly what I'd hoped to experience in Galapagos.

  • Small fishing boats and expensive restaurants line the harbour in Puerto Ayora

    Small fishing boats and expensive restaurants line the harbour in Puerto Ayora

  • julie looking lovely by the harbour.

    julie looking lovely by the harbour.

  • At low tide, the rocks by the pier are littered with Sally Lightfoot crabs. An occasional lava lizard is in there too.

    At low tide, the rocks by the pier are littered with Sally Lightfoot crabs. An occasional lava lizard is in there too.

  • A trio of marine iguanas pose in formation for me on the pier

    A trio of marine iguanas pose in formation for me on the pier

  • This seal lifted its head and flapped a flipper when Julie sat down next to it, but quickly resumed its nap.

    This seal lifted its head and flapped a flipper when Julie sat down next to it, but quickly resumed its nap.

  • Avenida de Charles Darwin - the main drag in Puerto Ayora. Featuring Albatros Dive Center, and two guides who we always saw around and provided lots of advice.

    Avenida de Charles Darwin - the main drag in Puerto Ayora. Featuring Albatros Dive Center, and two guides who we always saw around and provided lots of advice.

  • the only picture of Andrew wearing his "panama hat". Shortly after this we got on the boat and the hat got wet and lost its form.

    the only picture of Andrew wearing his "panama hat". Shortly after this we got on the boat and the hat got wet and lost its form.

  • Julie squints against the sea spray as we two a dive boat back to harbour. Andrew spotted the captain waving a white towel while we were on our tour of Academy Bay. After learning that the boat had run out of gas, we had second thoughts about booking a diving trip for the next day.

    Julie squints against the sea spray as we two a dive boat back to harbour. Andrew spotted the captain waving a white towel while we were on our tour of Academy Bay. After learning that the boat had run out of gas, we had second thoughts about booking a diving trip for the next day.

  • These small fishes surrounded us while snorkelling. The water is too murky to take pictures of anything else.

    These small fishes surrounded us while snorkelling. The water is too murky to take pictures of anything else.

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  • it is in water this colour that Julie nearly ran face first into a white-tipped reef SHARK!

    it is in water this colour that Julie nearly ran face first into a white-tipped reef SHARK!

  • This is why Galapagos is so neat - you can get right up close to these creatures and they don't care that you're there.

    This is why Galapagos is so neat - you can get right up close to these creatures and they don't care that you're there.

  • Puerto Ayora and the mountains of the Santa Cruz Island are in the background.

    Puerto Ayora and the mountains of the Santa Cruz Island are in the background.

  • nice shot of the coastline by Julie

    nice shot of the coastline by Julie

  • It's surprisingly arid right by the coastline. Isla Santa Cruz is neat: it's a desert by the coast, but a rainforest up in the hills in the middle of island.

    It's surprisingly arid right by the coastline. Isla Santa Cruz is neat: it's a desert by the coast, but a rainforest up in the hills in the middle of island.

  • my favourite shot of a marine iguana. These guys eat algae off the ocean floor. To discharge the saltwater that they inevitably swallow, they blast it out their noses.

    my favourite shot of a marine iguana. These guys eat algae off the ocean floor. To discharge the saltwater that they inevitably swallow, they blast it out their noses.

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  • skinny white boy

    skinny white boy

  • our tour boat for the afternoon

    our tour boat for the afternoon

  • we spotted a marine iguana swimming into this little cove.

    we spotted a marine iguana swimming into this little cove.

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • the captain stopped so I could get a good shot of this sally lightfoot crab.

    the captain stopped so I could get a good shot of this sally lightfoot crab.

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  • Our captain called this boat's captain "silly" for taking his boat over here in the shallows. Obviously he hit something and sunk a few years ago.

    Our captain called this boat's captain "silly" for taking his boat over here in the shallows. Obviously he hit something and sunk a few years ago.

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    The action at the Puerto Ayora fish market. This scene was exactly what I'd hoped to experience in Galapagos.
    Small fishing boats and expensive restaurants line the harbour in Puerto Ayora
    julie looking lovely by the harbour.