Blog Archive

Friday 21 April 2017

Apr 15 - Off to the Galapagos Islands !!

Apr 15 – Off to the Galapagos Islands !!

*** Sorry for the gap - no internet at all while at sea for 5 days and even on land now really slow so getting photos on is a challenge. Normal service will be resumed as & when we can !!***


This morning we headed back to Guayaquil airport to pick up our flight to Baltra Island. This airport was originally a US base protecting the Panama Canal but now is one of the two airports in the Galapagos. 

First view of the Galapagos from the air

Arriving at Baltra Airport





















Temperature here is in the thirties but very humid, very like the Easter Island climate. It is still the rainy season here so we are prepared for some afternoon showers, but not today by the looks of things.

From there a short bus ride and then on to the zodiacs (called Panga’s here) out to the ship. The Athala II is a 16  person catamaran and the cabins and public areas are really nicely done. Certainly more luxurious than our ex Russian survey ship in Antarctica !!
The Athalla II

Our cabin !


Once on board we had a briefing from our naturalist guide who certainly knows his stuff. Similar to Antarctica, it is all about protecting & conserving the environment, so no food to be taken onto the islands, Shoes checked for anything in the treads, hose down when you return etc.
It was also the start of our lessons on the islands which consist of 244 registered islands with 13 main islands. An island definition here by UNESCO is any land that sustains any vegetation.

In the late afternoon we took our first trip on to Mosquera Islet a sandy spit between Baltra and North Seymour. This is home to one of the largest sea lion colonies on the islands and we had the place to ourselves. The sea lions were completely unafraid of us and when a couple of people waded into the water, they played and headbutted them as if they were part of their colony.






The islet is also home to hundreds of Sally lightfoot crabs, lava lizards and some marine iguanas. 
Sally Lightfoot crabs
Marine Iguana


Close up....

We mosied around in amongst them all quite happily even though there were many sea lion cubs still being weaned. They fed quite happily with us standing just a few feet away.

From there we went back in the panga’s and headed off to look at the cliffs of Baltra island where the male frigate birds are trying to attract a female mate by blowing a huge red balloon from their necks. It takes them about 25 minutes to fully inflate and then once they have attracted a mate it goes back down. Very photogenic although hard to capture from a rocking and rolling panga !


Also on parade was the famous Galapagos Blue Footed Booby, can't think where they got that name....


Back to the boat as the sun was setting for sundowners on deck in the warm balmy evening.


What a great start to our Galapagos adventure……