Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

We had a 4.30am pick up for our flight today.  I didn’t really mind as it was the day we flew to the Galápagos Islands.  We had our luggage checked to ensure we were not bringing seeds or fruit on the flight that could be accidentally introduced to the islands.  On the plane about half way into the flight a young lad had a fit, it was terrifying at first because I thought it was a hostage or terrorism attack. Poor guy recovered with oxygen but looked wrecked as we landed and he was taken to an ambulance.

Oswaldo, our guide, met us at arrivals and we took a bus to the pontoon.  We saw huge red crabs on the rocks called ‘Sally Lightfoot’, which may become my new photography obsession.  Climbing aboard home for the next 10 days, we quickly unpack and orientate ourselves with the boat.  We get a huge lunch and then start motoring to our first stop.  We are joined by a group of Frigate birds hovering overhead.

Our first port Tortuga bay is a beautiful bay, picturesque sandy beach with torquoise waters.  As we step onto the beach we can see more crabs and further on fat marine iguanas warming themselves on the rocks.

We can snorkel right from the beach and we quickly dive in to see the tropical fish.  Whilst snorkelling we saw a small shark swim by and coming in I see a sea snake burrowing into the sand close to the beach.