September 19, Thursday,Quito • Fly to Galápagos • Embark Galápagos small ship 

Destination: The Galápagos Islands  

Accommodations: ARCHIPELL II CRUISE

We were up before dawn to check out of our hotel by 5:30. Having hot water in many of the rooms on our floor in the hotel has been an issue the last few days. And by an issue I mean… not existent. So, we couldn’t take a shower. We washed up in the sink and then went down for a light breakfast and coffee.

The bus took us to the airport and check in was a breeze. We boarded our plane and off we went. We had to fill out a lot of paperwork stating that we weren’t carrying any fruit, nuts, etc. in our suitcases. We also had to fill out a Galapagos form that we turned in and the other half we keep and turn in when we leave.

We had to make a stop and change planes, but everything went very smoothly for re-boarding. We were not given anything to eat on the plane, but they did have tea and coffee. Allan and I asked for a glass of water and it seemed like a huge inconvenience to the flight attendant. She brought Allan’s and I told her to just forget it. Before the plane landed in the Galapagos, the crew came by and sprayed the overhead bins with I am guessing was an insect spray.

We arrived at Baltra Island’s Seymour Airport and turned in our declaration forms. We boarded a bus which took us to a ferry and we landed on Santa Cruz Island, the second largest of the Galápagos Islands. During the ride, Pablo told us that fishing without a license is illegal in the Galapagos. If a boat is caught without a license, the boat is seized and the fisherman is fined and put into jail. Then, the boat is taken out to the ocean and sunk! The government really means business when it comes to illegal fishing.

Our bus was waiting for us and we went to visit the El Chato 2 Ranch – a private tortoise reserve. The Galapagos Islands are actually named after the tortoises, as the word Galapago means horse saddle in Spanish. When the early Spaniards arrived, they rode the giant tortoises like horses for fun.

The tortoises are abundant on the reserve and they spend their time here during their migration between the coast and the highlands. We were issued rubber boots and then went to walk along the paths to find the tortoises. We didn’t have to look very far, since wherever you looked, there were tortoises. We observed them up close and personal and Pablo gave us an introduction into their mating habits, how to tell males from females, and a lot of other interesting facts. He mentioned that a male tortoise can weigh as much as 650 lbs.

After spending time with the tortoises, we went to a giant volcanic lava tunnel where we walked down lava steps and then walked through a cave where lava once flowed, leaving behind the hollow tunnel with the volcanic rock above. It was pretty amazing to see.

We boarded our bus once again and took a water raft ride to the Archipell II, our home for the next four days.

Upon arriving, Pablo told us how to don our life jackets in the event of an emergency, and also showed us where to store the shoes we will be wearing when off the ship. We cannot wear those shoes onboard as they don’t want any soil transferring to the ship from the different islands we will be visiting.

We had a delicious lunch – fish, spinach pasta casserole, salad, onion, palm hearts, and tomato side dish and fresh fruit for dessert. We can fill up our water bottles each day with fresh water from the cooler. There is a bar on board and we can start a tab if we’d like.

Our cabin is small, since the ship can only accommodate 16 passengers, but we have plenty of drawer space and a nice shower. Allan and I have one of the two double bed cabins.

We had a really good dinner. The chef on this ship is amazing. Everything is delicious!

We are going to bed now. Busy day tomorrow.
Since the ship will have WiFi on occasion, hoping to keep posting.
Buenos noches.

On the drive to the ferry.

Our boots

Hello! Pablo figured this tortoise was about 130 years old.

In the lava tunnel

This is the watercraft that we take whenever we leave our ship to go touring.