Thanks to our good Western Australian friends, Tim & Loren, we were convinced to visit the Galapagos Islands - and we found paradise!
With only 2 weeks we were unsure how to best spend our limited time. Snorkeling almost every day, and climbing volcano peaks every other, we were kept in awe of this biological hot spot day in day out.
Marine Iguanas are everywhere you look on all coastal rock ledges - snorting salt from there noses, climbing over each other and heading out for the occasional swim to feed on the sea weed.
Sting ray..
Sea Turtles are absolutely everywhere in these rich waters...however you never get sick of floating in the tides beside these amazing placid animals.
Tim, making friends with a young sea lion
A large Eagle Ray sleeping under the Mangroves ... dont get too close to this guy!
Young Sea Lions are so much fun to swim and dive with, however it is impossible to keep up!
While climbing Volcan Sierra Negra we were lucky enough to see a Galapagos Land Iguana - These are very rare these days due to impact of feral rats and cats.
Blue-footed Boobie
On isla San Cristobal we stumbled into the Galapagos Day celebrations, including a crazy fireworks display.
The crew
Have you ever been inside a turtle shell? Very cosy indeed!
Giant Tortoises are now abundant in the Galapagos highlands thanks to the captive breeding programs of the parks service and Charles Darwin Research Center.
We were lucky enough to see a few Hammerheads while snorkeling around Leon Dormido. However, these weird creatures are very shy and swim fast in the opposite direction as you try to pursue..
Snorkeling at Leon Dormido, or Kicker Rock, was one of the best days ever. Schools of fish of many species in countless numbers, playful mature Sea Lions diving and weaving within inches, Galapagos Sharks skillfully prowling....
Diving down 10+ meters into a school of fish and looking up to see nothing but fish surrounding you....awesome!
This scene we will remember forever .... Shadowing a group of 20 Eagle Rays swimming in gracefully in formation over a bottomless depth full of Galapagos and White tipped Sharks with the odd Hammerhead cruising past.
Galapagos Penguins are very strange animals indeed. Swimming with these small curious and surprisingly cunning birds is a very different experience indeed. The agility of these birds in the water is amazing, and nothing is too close for these courageous little guys. Ian was lucky enough to have one latch in to his finger following which he lifted the bird body length out of the water to show the watching tourists...priceless!
They do love the reflection of the camera lens ... none I swam with could resist having a chomp.
The Galapagos is handsdown the most amazing place we have visited anywhere! Enough said, just go and experience it for yourself!
