What an experience! I have just returned from a visit to the Galapagos islands and would say to everyone – do go and see the marvellous wildlife.
I spent six days on board MS Santa Cruz II, a Hurtigruten expedition. There were only fourteen guests, so we had an exceptional time.
We landed at Baltra airport. We had to hand over our Transit Control Card (TCC) – cost $20. Our carry-on luggage was x-rayed and checked that we were not bringing any fruit or seeds into the Galapagos. One-use plastics are also banned there. We also had to pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee of $100. Our hold luggage was subject to a K9 inspection – a dog sniffed it all to check for contraband.
Then we left the airport to get on our coach. Outside were cactus and tropical plants and in among them our first encounter with iguanas. Two were just sitting there basking in the heat and a third was wandering around.
A ten-minute bus ride and we boarded a panga to go out to our ship. No sooner had we arrived at our ship and had our safety briefing, then we left for our first landing, on Mosquera Islet. Ahead of us was a long white beach. We went by panga and had a wet landing where we paddled to get on shore.
All visitors to Galapagos must be accompanied by a certified naturalist guide, and our one was so knowledgeable and answered all our questions.
On the beach were sea lions, having a nap or just lying there ignoring us. There was a pelican by the edge of the shore fishing, sally light-foot crabs on the rocks, lava lizards hot-footing it on the sand, and a marine iguana lying on a log.
None of the animals and birds were concerned about us, they didn’t run away as we got close. We had to stay two metres away from them but sometimes they would approach us.
As well as the pelican we saw frigate birds and the red-billed tropic bird – a beautiful white bird with a long, long tail. Later on, we spotted a yellow warbler on the sand near to a whale skeleton.
A wonderful start to our Galapagos adventure.
Nannie RaRa 