Ecuador - Galápagos
- kmanhartsberger
- Jul 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 19
What a very special adventure to have an opportunity go to Galápagos! It is an unforgettable experience, and we have so many memories from just a few days on the islands.
Nature is varied because of altitude. In Isla Santa Cruz alone, where we stayed, there are three different micro climates. Many of the other islands are close to sea level and flat, giving a barren environment with birds, sea lions and iguanas making up the population.
Our activities for our five-day trip included walks, boats, snorkeling, swimming, animal watching, listening to very knowledgeable guides and learning many facts about the local flora and fauna. As Harold talks to everyone, we soon learned about many rumors and theories about all kinds of local business. We encountered many sea lions (in Galápagos there are only sea lions and you know because they have little external ears, whereas seals don't have any outer ears at all), pelicans, turtles, and even the Darwin finch. And while walking on the footpaths and streets, we had to watch out not to step on the iguanas that were sleeping there. Wildlife has right of space and right of way, always! Two special experiences were to see sharks up close while snorkeling, and learn about the native bird piquero de patas azules. The sharks were friendly enough, maybe up to a meter long. They are a bit scary though, no matter what the guide says!
We made a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Center, which is working to maintain and protect the wildlife and special nature of Galápagos. It is not an easy task, and climate change reaches everywhere. We were impressed with how well the tourists were managed and how all activities were executed on time with friendly staff and working equipment. Not all tourists are well behaved, which is making the staff's job more difficult. All the animals were very well behaved for sure!
