Over one hundred fifty years ago, a man wrote about his quest that took him to a place where he would discover how life evolved thousands of years ago. Travel with us as we follow in his footsteps and relive our adventure to a land that is inhabited by species that can be found nowhere else on earth.
The Celebrity Xpeditions adventure began in Quito, Ecuador where we had the opportunity to visit local sites including the Equatorial Line Monument. Here you can stand on a line between the two hemispheres. After spending two days in Quito, we flew to Baltra to board our ship.
Our ultimate destination was an archipelago of volcanic islands near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. We were met by a team of naturalists who transported us by Zodiacs to our waiting ship, Celebrity Xpedition. After we checked in, we were briefed on the day’s activities and gathered for our first excursion. Later that evening we would once again gather in the lounge for a briefing about the next day’s activities. 4
We learned that there would be several different types of activities during the cruise. For example, on our first day there were two options, a High Intensity Activity - Dry Landing at North Seymour Island and a Low/Medium Intensity Activity - Zodiac Ride and Dry Landing. We opted for the Zodiac ride along the coastline which searched for Galapagos Fur Seals, Lava Herons, and Swallow-Tailed Gulls.
You may be wondering what a Dry Landing is. It is exactly as it sounds. You can wear hiking boots or any other sort of comfortable shoes without fear of them getting wet. It is advisable to wear sturdy, yet comfortable shoes and use a hiking stick on most Dry Landings. Some of the activities were Wet Landings. You will get wet and it’s best to be in your swimsuit along with sturdy water shoes such as Teva sandals.
Finally, several of the excursions during the week had the opportunity for snorkeling. All gear, including wet suit, mask, snorkel, fins, and mesh bag for storage were provided. Most snorkeling outings included a Wet Landing and hiking around the island before swimming and snorkeling. Once on shore, the bags were lined up and the hiking activity took place. Following the hike, you got into your snorkeling gear and headed for the water. The bags have plenty of room for storing cameras and other personal items that you don't want while snorkeling.
As we explored the islands, we wondered what it would have been like when Darwin first visited the Galapagos. Just like us he would have seen several species of birds such as Galapagos hawks, Blue-Footed Boobies, Masked Boobies, Frigate Birds, Mockingbirds, Spotted Eagle Rays, and Flightless Cormorants. There are several species of Red Marine and Land Iguanas, and Sea Lions.
Perhaps he also saw various types of tropical fish such as Yellow tailed Surgeon Fish, Parrot Fish, and the small Galapagos Damsel Fish. When we were snorkeling, we saw those as well as Sea Lions, Green Sea Turtles, Stingray, White-tipped Sharks, and some other fish. On shore we saw Sally Lightfoot and other species of Crabs.
We were very fortunate to also see five different subspecies of Giant Tortoises including Lonesome George who was the last of his species. Shortly after our visit to Galapagos, he died ending that species.
One of the highlights for me was on Bartolomé Island where we spotted the ever-playful Galapagos Penguins, which are the second smallest penguin species in the world. They are the only penguin to cross the Northern Hemisphere which means they live further north than any other warm weather penguin. As you explore the islands, you never know what you will see next.
One morning when disembarking the Zodiac, I managed to stub my toe. I had to change my afternoon plans to something less strenuous. While my husband hiked on one of the islands I was circling around in the Zodiac. Suddenly, the naturalist spotted an Orca whale breaching the surface. We started to follow nearby, staying just far enough away not to invade its privacy. Before we knew it, there was a pod of 4 whales in the area giving us quite a show.
I obviously can't say that you'll see Orcas if you go to Galapagos, but no matter what Mother Nature has in store for you during your visit, I can say you will cherish that for the rest of your life. I have many memories from this day and from the entire trip. Contact me to plan your Galapagos adventure.