Galapagos Islands
This time I backpacked the Galapagos flying from Quito to Baltra. We chose Santa Cruz as our base because most day trips could be done from this island. We got the airport bus to Canal de Itabaca crossed by ferry and then a taxi/ bus to Puerto Ayora which sounds difficult but in reality is easy. Puerto Ayora has hostels, hotels, apartments and guest houses to suit all pockets but it a very busy place all year round so it is advisable to book ahead. Tours to various islands are offered everywhere and there is an extremely wide choice of restaurants and cafes. Small boats are limited to where they can take you as some islands are only available to the large week long cruises.
From Santa Cruz: Can go to North Seymour: Blue footed boobies, frigate birds (red bulbous neck while mating only found here), marine iguanas and some land iguanas.
Bartolemew: barren volcanic landscape- pinnacle rock =penguins
Plaza isles: Plaza Sur- sea lions, land iguanas follow trail to cliffs to see tropic birds, manta rays and dolphins
Santa Fe: Sting rays and reef sharks
Santiago (James Island): Sally Lightfoot crabs, turquoise pools, marine iguanas and marine turtles.
San Cristobel from Santa Cruz
Isabella
Daily from Santa Cruz by speed boat: warned to book accommodation ahead but we had no trouble finding accommodation- people meet the boats and offer accommodation. It has an active crater hike about 4 hours, boat ride to Los Tintores- we were unlucky and did not see the promised reef sharks but saw Sally crabs, land iguanas, sea lions. Los Tuneles looked a like a great snorkelling place but sadly did not have time to do it. Pozo de flamingos: we did not see any flamingos. We hired bikes and cycled round Isabella and saw the land tortoises. Also watched the diving blue footed boobies. It is spectacular as they dive at 40 kms per hour.
