Escape to the Galápagos Islands

It's time to talk about an unreal impact exploration in an unreal place. We're talking about the Galápagos Islands! I visited the Galápagos Islands with my family in 2017 and was completely blown away by how incredible this place truly is. It's like living in side a real-life wildlife documentary. Being able to take an up close glimpse of the rare and endemic species of this archipelago is unlike anything else you will ever do. Rest assure, your visit to the Galápagos Islands directly funds the continued conservation of this natural wonder and contributes to the local economy.

The Galápagos Islands were annexed by it's neighbor Ecuador in 1832. There are 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets. They were first discovered by Spanish explorers and conquistadores who accidentally came upon them while on their way to Peru from Central America. The Spanish took note of the peculiar wildlife, like the Galápagos tortoise and the marine iguana. The area was not suitable for human settlement, however, due to a complete lack of freshwater on the islands. For hundreds of years, the Galápagos Islands were a strategic and convenient pit stop for pirates who sailed around the new world and Pacific Ocean. The giant tortoises were used as a source of fresh food as they could be stored on board ships and eaten during long voyages. Due to this exploitation, the Galápagos tortoise population plummeted, and certain subspecies have already gone extinct on some of the islands. Efforts have been underway for several decades to restore the Galápagos tortoise population.

Map of the Galápagos Islands

Even from a logistical standpoint, visiting the Galápagos Islands was unlike anything I've ever done.We flew in from Quito, Ecuador and landed at the main airport on Baltra Island. From Baltra Island, we took a short ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island where we then took one of the many taxis (which were all pickup trucks) to our hotel in Puerto Ayora, the largest human settlement in the Galápagos. I was amazed to find out that the entire archipelago is a national park, though there are designated zones for human settlement. We passed by several cattle ranches and even a tortoise ranch on our way to town.  

Pricing: Entrance fees for Galápagos National Park are $100 per adult and $50 per child, unless you are from the Ecuador, the Andean Community, or any Mercosur nations. Although this price is not cheap, this is where your vacation directly impacts the conservation of a natural wonder. 

My lovely wife, Neysla, posing by a sea lion and pelican at the main port in Puerto Ayola. Those guys are regulars here. This little port is just like any other commercial port in Latin America where locals buy and sell sea food.

Now, on to the fun stuff. The first things we wanted to know about the Galápagos Islands were what to go do and see. We weren't in a financial or even logistical position to plan way ahead or pay tons of money to book a tour with a big tour company, but we found everything we needed right on the main street of town, just 2 blocks from our hotel. Despite all the warnings about planning ahead that we read online, there were plenty of tour companies in town hungry to take anyone on one of their many tour options. Of course, we wanted to see the tortoises, so we visited one of the nearby tourist ranches that lies at the border between the human settlement and wildlife zones. These ranches are really the best place to see the tortoises up close, and boy are they HUGE! These guys can weigh up to several times my own weight, and I'm not skinny!

                                     

A massive dude along our hike to and through a sweet cave

The trick to getting a good shot with the wildlife is to position yourself directly in front of or behind the animal. Park rules are strictly enforced, and you must be 2 meters away from all wildlife.

Next, we wanted to see the birds. I had seen documentaries about the Galápagos Islands and learned all about these beautiful birds with funny names, like the Blue-footed booby. For this adventure, we took a boat with a different tour group to Seymour Island, just north of Baltra Island where the airport is. We saw lots of Blue-footed boobies and Royal Frigatebirds.

Puffed-up Royal Frigatebird

 Blue-footed Booby

 We saw lots of these land iguanas on Seymour Island

Last, but not least, we wanted to snorkel. Snorkeling in the Galápagos was the coolest thing ever. We snorkeled in two places during this short trip. First, we took a hike with a tour group right on Santa Cruz Island to this awesome volcanic crevice on the beach where tourists like to snorkel. I saw tons of fish and took amazing videos with my (at the time) brand new GoPro camera.

Snorkeling in Las Grietas, a super cool volcanic crevice on Santa Cruz Island. This is a popular spot to snorkel on the island.

Hiking out to Las Grietas.

More epic snorkeling was had on our way out to Seymour Island. The tour group stopped at this little, rocky islet where we saw tons of sea lions chillin' out in the sun. As soon as you hopped in the water they all swam up to you. It was the coolest thing ever!

 Up close and personal with a sea lion

If you're looking for the trip of a lifetime and want to make an impact while you travel, then plan your trip to the Galápagos Islands! You will not regret it!