The Galapagos (part 1 - southern islands) |
Day 1 - Getting There |
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Heading out to join the "Golondrina" in Puerto Ayora |
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Marine iguanas, lava crabs and one of Darwin's finches - it must be the Galapagos |
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Three different races of giant land tortoise being reared at the Darwin Research Institute |
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Land iguana |
Lava lizard |
Day 2 - Santa Cruz and Santa Fe Islands |
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The cloud had descended over Santa Cruz Island while we slept and we headed back to shore on the zodiac in a fine mist for our bus trip up to the highlands of this, the second largest island of the archipelago. Still, it was not inappropriate, as we were going to visit the garua (cloud) forest, kept evergreen by the mists that envelop it during this drier time of year, when much of the coastal forest has dropped its leaves. |
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One of the Los Gemelos sinkholes |
In the cloud forest of Santa Cruz |
The lack of fear so characteristic of Galapagos wild-life was apparent as finches and doves hopped about brazenly within a metre or two of us. It was pleasant to wander through the dripping forest as wisps of cloud drifted by, its rich understorey growing between chunks of rough black lava. |
Scaletia forest of the Santa Cruz highlands |
The second of the Los Gemelos sinkholes in the mist |
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Exploring a lava tunnel |
Cactus in flower |
The dry deciduous coastal woodlands |
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Heading towards Santa Fe Island |
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We followed the rugged coastline around to the east, until we reached a spot where a small island and off-shore rock rib had created a protected lagoon; a place appreciated by passing boats and by the local sea-lions who used its rocks and sandy beach as a favourite haul-out spot. |
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Sealed with a kiss - young sea-lions at play |
Sea-turtle on the floor of the lagoon |
A squadron of eagle-rays drifting by in ghostly formation |
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The sun about to set over the lagoon at Santa Fe |
Santa Fe tree pear and dry coastal scrub |
The Galapagos hawk poses for internet fame |
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Lighthouse at Punta Suarez |
Warm and cuddly sea-lion photo |
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The brightly coloured Española species of marine iguana |
Marine iguanas in a group pose |
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Blue-footed booby |
A pair of swallow-tailed gulls |
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Masked booby colony at Punta Suarez |
Blowhole on the western end of Española |
The full 3 metre wingspan of a ...... |
...... waved albatross in flight |
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The rough lava surface of the albatross breeding grounds |
Nesting albatross and chick |
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Albatross conflab - three's a crowd? |
Who could resist those sad black eyes? |
A pair of courting waved albatross |
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Big seas pounding the 30m cliffs of western Española |
Lava lizard |
A fine collection of marine iguanas |
Strange bedfellows - mocking bird and Galapagos hawk |
Sea-lion cooling off |
Why the masked booby is so-called |
The dance of the blue-footed boobies |
Portrait of a swallow-tailed gull |
Masked booby in flight |
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Storm petrel skimming the sea |
The beautiful white sand beach of Gardner Bay |
The Golondrina anchored off Gardner Bay |
Mockingbird beach party |
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Day 4 - Floreana Island |
Again we were greeted by grey skies in the morning as we looked out at the conic hills, fringed even greyer with the bare trunks of deciduous palo santo trees. But as before, the cloud cover slowly thinned to allow patches of sunlight through. |
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On the pale sand beach where turtles nest |
Portrait of a lava crab |
Yellow warbler |
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Green sea-turtle burying her eggs ...... |
...... before slowly hauling herself back to the sea |
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Ancient cinder cones and craters on the shore of Floreana at Punta Cormorant |
The Devil's Crown - a great spot for snorkeling |
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The myriads of fish around the Devil's Crown |
Pinkish brain corals |
Swimming with a big school |
Back to the Golondrina and it was off for a short trip to nearby Post Office Bay where, after another great lunch from Chef David, we landed once again. In the times of sailing ships a type of Post Office was set up here where sailors left messages for one another. The drop spot still exists and a tradition remains to leave a message and to pick one up, if it is addressed to near your home, and hand deliver it. We duly left a message: I guess we will eventually find out if it works or not. From here we wandered inland to explore a cave in an old lava flow, which passed through a narrow opening to enter a large magma dome 5m below the level of the nearby sea, which had intruded to form a lake at the far end of the cavern. |
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Deciduous santo palo trees in old lava |
Descending into the lava cave |
Checking out the lake at the end of the lava cave |
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Green sea-turtle grazing on beds of seaweed |
You blow bubbles - I blow bubbles |
Underwater elegance 1 |
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Underwater elegance 2 |
Parrot fish |
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Dinner on the Golondrina |
Farewell cake for those leaving mid-voyage |
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