Apr 18, 2012 - Santa Cruz Island

The second largest island, Santa Cruz is also home to the largest human population as well as the second largest wild tortoise population on the islands. Santa Cruz is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Center, where scientists gather information for the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. It is also home to "Lonesome George", the last surviving member of his line of tortoise breed. George is the last of his kind; when he is gone, his race will vanish from the face of the earth forever. Such a personal look at extinction is a vivid...

Feb 23, 2011 - Galapagos – off to a great start!

Off Isla Santa Cruz (West Coast) 20 Feb 2011 – 2130 in Galapagos As I began to write this update, at 1745, we were just slowing to drop anchor in Eden Bay, off the West Coast of Santa Cruz Island. We have been aboard for about seven hours and have already had an awesome day – within 3 ½ hours of boarding, we had our first excursion and saw several indigenous creatures – but I am getting ahead of myself! I’ll get to the excursion later. Our day began before 0500, so that we could be up, showered, dressed, packed and checked out before...

May 11, 2010 - Day 1 Galapagos

We got up mega early to trave to the Galapagos- got a two hour flight, bus, ferry, bus again, dingy ride then finally got to our lovely boat the G2 at midday. There are 16 people on our boat and half were young travellers and half were couples, so an alright mix. Mostly girls or older guys with massive cameras. We spent the afternoon at the Charles Darwin Research centre which is basically a conservation-breeding centre for giant tortoises. So saw some lovely cute baby ones and some gigantor old ones. The giant ones were there because they...

Mar 2, 2010 - st.bartolome & puerto egas

We thought this was going to be a vacation! Yesterday up at 4:30 am and today at 5:30! Monday morning, early rise and shine at 6 am for a 6:30 departure to St. Bartolome. (We motored here during the night) As Buzz Aldrin declared on a previous trip, this place is the closest he’s ever seen to a moon scape. We climbed 372 steps to the summit of 379 ft—believe us, this seemed more like it should have several zeros added to the numbers. We huffed and puffed our way to the top, and saw lava lizards, a large painted locust, two varieties of...

Jan 9, 2010 - Santa Cruz, Lava tunnels

I think everybody is finally worn out. It was a lazy morning and we finally decided to take a taxi up to view the lava tunnels. It was actually just an old lady's back yard. She gave us two flashlights and showed us the entry to the tunnels. I didn't really get to appreciate the tunnels much since I was so busy watching my feet. It was sprinkling when we went into the tunnels and pouring when we got out. We probably walked a half mile in the pouring rain before getting back to her house. She was very kind and immediately offered us coffee....

Jan 8, 2010 - Charles Darwin Foundation

Rented bikes today and rode through the Charles Darwin Foundation site. We were able to get really close to the big turtles. It is so hot and humid here that two hours was about all we could take, so off for naps and then an internet session in the afternoon. Two hours with both of us on a computer and I was able to answer business email and Gary was able to at least put in the word part of our travel update. Not possible to upload any photos still, this is about the speed of dial up. Fun trip down to the local nightclub for pool and...

Jan 7, 2010 - Back to Santa Cruz Island

Back on the boat for the ride back to Santa Cruz. The water was much more choppy, at least 3 people on board were sick and most everyone looked green before the very long two hour trip was through. Coffee, juice and pastries at the local bakery buoyed most but many long naps were taken today. Hopefully tomorrow will cure most ills.

Jan 4, 2010 - Galapagos!

We are up at 5:30 a.m. for a 7:50 a.m. flight to the Galapagos. Everyone is still tired and most are sleeping on the plane. By the time we reach Santa Cruz, we have taken one taxi, two flights, two buses, and one ferry. I was glad we had guides. We stay at a hotel called the Estrella De Mar (Star of the Sea) and it is right on the waterfront. It costs $20 per person, we share a 3 single bed room and a shower with, you guessed it, no hot water. It is clean and the view is nice, so I am not complaining. We are trying to abdicate from the...

Jun 29, 2009 - Santa Cruz to Quito - Monday

The crew on the Darwin were great characters. Sergio was so different from other guides we saw along the way. He has completely gung-ho got into everything with us. We saw another guide who sat in the zodiac while the folks were snorkeling. Sergio was out with us looking to point out everything he could. He told us that he knew this was our one chance to see the Galapagos, and he'd do his best for us. He absolutely did! We did laugh a bit about his habit of saying things like "Don't take the picture to me when I do this..." The rest of the...

Sep 22, 2008 - Santa Cruz

So we arrived in the Galapagos (Isla Santa Cruz) on Saturday morning and caught the airport bus into town where we were dropped off outside the Islands Hospital – not that Barbara could recognize it as a hospital, it looks more like a cell block with some tinted windows keeping out the Equatorial sun. We managed to contact our volunteering organization leader (www.galapagosice.org), Emily, who then took us to our host family’s home. The home is huge by South American standards- three floors, each added separately over a six year period....

May 11, 2008 - The day I missed Lonesome George

..basically because going to bed at nearly 3am and having to get up at 6.30am doesn´t really work when you consume a lot of Tanqueray until the 3am. I waved everyone off instead and lay gently recovering on the deck of the ship for the day... After dinner though, we had baby turtles and pelicans, flying fish, seals and sharks off the side of the boat, which was pretty spectacular.

Apr 13, 2008 - Galapagos 5

Sunday April 13th – up for a 6.30am trip to North Seymour Island. Lots of Frigate birds, Blue Footed Boobies, Iguanas and seals. Walked around the Island for one and a half hours then returned to the boat for breakfast. Motored down to Baltra where some of the passengers got off/on. After new passengers got on we sailed to Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz Island where we moored and took the zodiacs into the lagoon to see quite a few sea turtles.