A Journey to the Galápagos Islands
After the passing of my husband in 2022, I needed to take a break, decompress, and move on. Last year, as an animal and nature lover, I decided to jump on the Reina Sylvia, a small ship with 15 guests and 10 crew visiting the Galápagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador.
The Galapagos is a mostly volcanic archipelago off the coast of Ecuador. I booked this tour with Go Adventures through my local Expedia travel agent, Mike Decker. It was perfect for me and totally unforgettable. The landscape was full of wildlife and natural volcanic beauty. I did not miss the historic architecture or throngs of people bustling about that were present in my past travels..
I loved the cool clear waters and the close proximity of the animals. Sea lions are tame and adorable. My first encounter was at the Ecuador airport waiting for a ride to the ship. A sea lion was snoozing on a patio bench, paying no attention to the travelers gathering there.
At the ship, our guide, Venus, greeted us & we met the other travelers and crew. I have never been on such a small ship with so few travelers and so many crew. The service was incredible, as was the food. I was the only vegetarian but my food was just as creative and elegant as the meat eaters.
Venus (pronounced Vee-noose) was amazing. She grew up in the Islands and could explain any detail we might ask her.
Our first stop was Santa Cruz to the Charles Darwin Resarch Station, a tortoise ranch and breeding center where we saw 100 year old tortoises moving slowly across the landscape, chomping leisurely on grass as they seemed comfortable with their popularity. They appeared slow and lazy, kind of like humans as we near the century mark. It is said Charles Darwin used his research there to inspire his theory of evolution.
We spent every morning and afternoon on an activity, snorkelling, kayaking or hiking. The hiking paths were very challenging, all rocks and boulders. We saw blue footed boobies, red footed boobies, red chested frigates, owls, iguanas and penguins. The red chested frigates were males puffing out their chests hoping to attract a female. The limestone formations were incredible.
While I brought my best jogging/walking shoes, I was not at all prepared for the rocky terrain. I opted to stay with snorkelling and kayaking, both of which were fabulous. The water was cold and clear. I was happy I brought along my dive skin. We were not to touch or tease any of the animals. There are strict rules on the islands, as they are considered protected. No one is allowed to enter the islands without a guide or approved tour group.
I loved the cool clear waters and the close proximity of the animals. Sea lions are tame and adorable. My first encounter was at the Ecuador airport waiting for a ride to the ship. A sea lion was snoozing on a patio bench, paying no attention to the travelers gathering there.
At the ship, our guide, Venus, greeted us & we met the other travelers and crew. I have never been on such a small ship with so few travelers and so many crew. The service was incredible, as was the food. I was the only vegetarian but my food was just as creative and elegant as the meat eaters.
Venus (pronounced Vee-noose) was amazing. She grew up in the Islands and could explain any detail we might ask her.
Our first stop was Santa Cruz to the Charles Darwin Resarch Station, a tortoise ranch and breeding center where we saw 100 year old tortoises moving slowly across the landscape, chomping leisurely on grass as they seemed comfortable with their popularity. They appeared slow and lazy, kind of like humans as we near the century mark. It is said Charles Darwin used his research there to inspire his theory of evolution.
We spent every morning and afternoon on an activity, snorkelling, kayaking or hiking. The hiking paths were very challenging, all rocks and boulders. We saw blue footed boobies, red footed boobies, red chested frigates, owls, iguanas and penguins. The red chested frigates were males puffing out their chests hoping to attract a female. The limestone formations were incredible.
While I brought my best jogging/walking shoes, I was not at all prepared for the rocky terrain. I opted to stay with snorkelling and kayaking, both of which were fabulous. The water was cold and clear. I was happy I brought along my dive skin. We were not to touch or tease any of the animals. There are strict rules on the islands, as they are considered protected. No one is allowed to enter the islands without a guide or approved tour group.
The sea lions wanted to play and came right up to us trying to get our attention. The pups were particularly cute and full of antics. There were spotted eagle rays and black sting rays. There were scores of fish including several varieties of sharks. At one point there were about a half dozen hammer head sharks right below us. They didn't bother us and we didn't bother them.
We stopped at a total of 10 islands - Espanola, San Christobel, Santa Fe, Plazas, Genovesa, Santiago, Bartholeme, Rabida, Chinese Hat and Baltra. All were stunning, both on land and at sea.
After disembarking the Reina Sylvia and saying goodbye to my fellow travelers and crew, I spent a couple of days in Quito, Ecuador. I hired a driver and went to the equator to experience having one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one foot in the Southern Hemisphere.
This trip was way too short. I hope to return for an extended stay.