Monday, 23 April 2012

Galapagos Islands - I have been looking forward to this all year!


Hopping on a 2hr AeroGal flight to Isla Santa Cruz, the most inhabited islands of the Galapagos family, gives you a sense for just how far these islands are from mainland Ecuador. After landing you take a 10min bus ride to a tiny dock where you board a nondescript wooden boat and spend another 10mins crossing from Isla Baltra to Isla Santa Cruz proper. Then finally, everyone crams into another bus and rides 45mins to Puerto Ayora, the main drag. The islands at this time of year are hot and humid with an average temperature of 30 degrees during the day and consistently one short shower in the afternoon. Basically, I am prepared to be hot and sticky for the entire two weeks I intend to stay. No problem. Not many people spend two weeks in a place as magical as the Galapagos. I am prepared to suffer these minor discomforts. 


So arriving as late in the day, on a Friday no less, as I did I had some concerns around booking my last minute multi-day cruise through the islands since most 8day trips (the max sold unless you are Brad & Angelina, who by the way are also here I am told. No sighting yet) leave on Sundays. I decided instead to book six days on a First Class boat leaving Tuesday, going around Isla Isabella and Isla Fernandina as that is where you have the greatest chance to see Shark Whales (not that I am holding my breath for that one but given the chance...) and then booked some day trips from Santa Cruz for the days leading up to departure. After the cruise I will move to Isla San Cristobal for a few days and try to see some hammerhead sharks. For a girl so afraid of being eaten by Great White sharks I seem to have a passionate desire to mix and mingle with their lesser know killer relatives. No matter why, it seems I might just get my fill based on what I have heard from others who have already passed through. 

I don't have an underwater camera with me so I won't be able to share any photos of what I see in the deep blue but I am enjoying the idea that I will be focusing my attention on being in the moment and having those moments stay between myself and my future aquatic pals. Sorry you can't enjoy the visuals too but maybe that will further incent you to book your own trip one day to this little paradise.

These are my plans for the next two weeks. I fear I will never top them but it is a fear I am happy to live with. Wish me luck! 

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