Ecuador and Galapagos - 2/18/14

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Up early as bus left at 7:00 AM for the port of Ayora. Boarded the Narel II with 10 other passengers for the 2-hour voyage to Santa Fe Island. Trip was uneventful, but the sun was hot, hot, hot.  All ended the day with some sun burn, Glenda the worst, and Darcy not at all.
We tethered in a beautiful protected lagoon. Small inflatable took us to a gorgeous beach populated with Galapagos sea lions. They are not afraid of people at all, although the dominant male can be territorial. Then took a nature walk with guide. Saw Galapagos Hawk (endemic) mockingbird, lots of yellow Galapagos lizards.  Spotted a blue footed boobie bird. Huge cactus "trees" with large cactus pads. Known as Opuntia cactus, also known as a yellow prickly pear cactus. Saw frigate birds.
After walk, dinghy back to boat and then snorkelling.  Unfortunately Deb, Glenda and I didn't read the liner notes and forgot our swimming suits. Darcy went into the  lagoon for the snorkeling.  She enjoyed the experience but it was somewhat boring as the guide didn't go so our swimmers were on their own. After snorkeling, we were fed on board, fish, rice, carrots and green beans with a tasty sauce.  Beans were stringy.
After lunch we left at 2:30 and headed back to port, arriving around 3:45. We opted to stay in town, walked around, shopped, made multiple attempts to find an ATM (finally successful) had a beer at a port restaruant, bought some bottles of wine and then a taxi back to the hotel. We sat on the porch of our casita and drank two bottles of wine, then repaired to the restaurant for dinner.  In bed by 9:30.  Darcy was up late, going for a swim in the pool after dark.