Helen's Great Galapagos Adventure part 2
11.06.2008 - 21.06.2008
25 °C
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Rio to Delhi
on hellcat1uk's travel map.
After a lumpy night we headed to Santiago island and Sullivan Bay where we went fora a walk over the lava flow an eruption 70 years ago. It was pretty weird and looked like a badly iced cake!! The landscape was very barren with few trees or greenery. Quite bizarre!

Me,Krin and Lee Ann on Santiago Island

Very green!!!
After our walk we got kitted up and headed for some snorkelling. As soon as I dropped into the water I spotted a white-tip reef shark........and then another, what a bonus. I heard the others shouting so popped my head to see a small black object heading at me on the surface of the water and then realised it was a penguin!! Later we saw a huge sting ray and loads of schooling fish and the requisite feeding razor surgeonfish, bumpheads and parrotfish. i spooted another moray but the others were too far away and I couldn't be bothered shouting to them. After lunch we did some more snorkelling but not as much life as the morning swim. The best art wa sitting on the beach watching the boobies diving for fish right next to the snorkellers. it was hilarious, with much squealing and choking going on!!!!
After a quick shower we headed up Bartholomew Island for the sunset and some great views. Sunset here happens so quickly. If you literally blink you can miss it.
View from Bartholomew Island
The end of the cruise and we pack our things. I could have booked a longer trip but funds are tight and so am I!!
We left the boat on San Cristobal island and me and the girls found a cheap room, but it was nearest the balcony and had sea views. We didn't waste any time and by lunchtime we were heading off for some more snorkelling.Firstly headed to Playa de los Tijeretas, a bit of a hike but well worth it. A beautiful clear bay but no beach as it was all rocky. Loads of sealions on the rocks and seemed to be taking it in turns to come in and check us out. Some of the larger males were a little scary. Spotted a shoal of razor fish then a large gren blob which turned out to be a turtle, FAB. Next beach was Caba los hornos where sealions were sunning thenselves and loads of turtles kept popping up to take breaths. The water was pretty rough so we just watched from the shore.
The girls were flying out the next day so we had a fairwell dinner and met Steve from Canada and Jonny from Hawaii who I arranged to go snorkelling with the next day.
Steve had been desperate to go to Kicker rock but couldn't get on a trip so organised one himself. Must say it wasn't that hot and it was expensive. we'd have been better sorting out the boat ourselves instead of going through dive shop. Tip for next time! we thought we spotted a shark but the water was cloudy and too deep to see very well.
On the way back we stoped at Isla lobos and played with the sealions, they were great fun and pulled me along on a piece of rope

Sealions at Isla Lobos
I spent the next 3 days on San Cristobal before heading back to Santa Cruz (on a rough trip where everyone from Ecuador was seasick) and my flight back to the dreaded Guayaquil (pretty grim place)
Posted by hellcat1uk 19.07.2008 23:22 Archived in Ecuador





