Galapagos Summary

We got back from the Galapagos about a week ago (the evening of Saturday the 4th) and life has been a little hectic since then so I'm just now getting around to writing about our trip.  I think I'll start with a quick summary and then make shorter, more detailed posts about each day.

We flew into Quito on Saturday the 21st and then spent a few days going around the city.  We left for the Galapagos on Tuesday the 24th and immediately got on the ship in Baltra once we landed.  We were on the ship for 7 nights got off on Tuesday morning the 31st in Puerto Ayora.  We spent 2 nights in Puerto Ayora and then flew back to Quito on Thursday the 2nd.  On Friday Brandon and I, along with two other people in our group from the ship, went to Bellavista Cloud Forest.  On Saturday we flew home.

Overall, it was amazing being away from civilization for a full week.  There wasn't even cell service once you got away from Baltra.  I really like the relaxed atmosphere of traveling by boat and having a pre-planned schedule each along along with all your meals made for you was fantastic.  Of course, the scenery and the animals were wonderful too!  The time of the boat was very busy though and I was getting up earlier on the boat than I was for work!

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite pictures before I get around to writing the longer posts.

Above Quito at the top of the Teleferiqo, a cable car up the side of a volcano to a lookout

The view of Quito from the Virgin of the Apocalypse statue

The deck of our boat

Adorable baby sea lion at our first stop (Darwin's Bay, Genovesa)

A Nazca Gull at Darwin's Steps

The small inflated boat was how we got to the islands from our ship, the crew called it a tender or panga.

Blue-footed boobie