Galapagos Islands- Part 1

Greetings from Galapagos

Having arrived home earlier this morning, I couldn't wait to post some pictures of our trip. As I scanned through the pictures, trying to pick a few out, I realized that in order to give you the flavor of our trip, I would have to post a lot more than just a few pictures. The sights were so amazing, that I want you to see them all. I plan to make many posts. For today, I have picked out a few pictures from our first two days in Ecuador. We flew to Guyaquil, Ecuador, then the following day, flew to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. We were met at the airport by our tour guides, and transported by bus, boat, and minibus to Santa Cruz Island. We had a forty-five minute drive to the south end of the island and our hotel.
Our trip started just the way every trip starts, an hour-long wait at the boarding gate.
From the dock by our hotel, we took a small boat to the main dock of the city. Here we boarded a bus for a 45 minute ride to the north end of the island.

Galapagos Tortoise

We found this large Galapagos Tortoise on a spot of private land. The male Galapagos Tortoise can live for well over a hundred years, and can grow to a weight of 500-700 pounds. They eat the foilage on the island, and love the guava fruits.
The girls were able to wear these tortoise shells. The shell is formed from bone. It is actually the skeleton of the thorax. The dark pattern on the back is Keratin, the same protein that forms nails and hair.


We explored this lava tube, which is formed when the lava flows down the side of the mountain, and the outside cools and hardens. The lava inside continues to flow, and when the flow stops, this hollow tube forms. Where the roof falls in, an opening is created, and allows one to explore. These tubes run for miles down the side of the mountain. We descended only a few hundred feet.

We had to travel forty-five minutes by boat from the north end of Santa Cruz Island to North Seymour Island. Sun screen and sun glasses are important as the sun is intense at the Equator.

As we left the boat, and ascended the rocks to the island,we were greeted by this sleeping Galapagos Sea Lion pup. We all walked past him to the upper rocks, and he didn't even stir.

Blue-Footed Boobie

The Blue-Footed Boobie is unique to the Galapagos. These birds were named Boobies by the Spaniards because they have no fear of humans, and will not flee when approached, thus allowing the Spaniards to easily club them for food. They build their nests in soft sand on the ground. The male and female take turns guarding the nest, and sitting on the eggs to protect them from the hot sun. The female lays two eggs a few days apart. When the eggs hatch, the oldest chick will try to prevent the younger chick from eating, or will attack and kill it to improve his own chances for survival.

Lava Lizard

This lava lizard will do push ups with his front legs to broadcast that his territory is already claimed.

Frigate Bird

This is the male Frigate Bird which inflates his neck sack to attract a mate. They nest in the trees so they do not compete with the Boobies for nesting sites. They are excellent fliers, and will steal fish from the Boobies. When the Boobie dives for a fish, and comes out of the water with one, the Frigate will attack it. To avoid attack, the Boobie will drop his fish, and the Frigate will catch it in mid-air.