Beach on Baltra Island Sally Lightfoot crab
I had to pinch myself when we disembarked from a flight from Guayaquil( the main port city in Ecuador) to North Seymour on Baltra Island with a group of university alumni from Edmonton, many of whom were just as giddy as we were to set foot on the storied islands. In a short time, we were all ferried to a small cruise ship named the Santa Cruz where we had been assigned delightful accommodations for our travel adventure.
Having settled into a laid-back cruise routine, my first island excursion was absolutely surreal. Stepping off a panga( Spanish for a large, inflatable raft) onto a sandy Galápagos beach was an unforgettable life moment. The Galápagos Islands are a biologist’ s Holy Grail and represent a defining pilgrimage in their lives. In my mind, I had finally“ made it” as a biologist.
It was both captivating and stunning, everything I ever dreamed of— a biological pinnacle. The skies were clear, the seas calm, the temperature around 20 C. The island was teeming with wildlife that seemed oblivious to the travellers. There were fur seals, sea lions, marine iguanas, countless crabs, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, and much more. It had all the appearance of an outdoor zoo. This experience was repeated again and again as we island-hopped the Galápagos with time spent safely snorkelling along the way. The marine life was astounding and mesmerizing.
You do not have to be a biologist to enjoy a trip to the Galápagos Islands. Just imagine yourself on a grand adventure that is senior friendly, engaging, exciting, and about as romantic as you’ ll ever enjoy. Trust me, I’ ve travelled the world and few places excel like the Galápagos— it’ s a true bucket-list trip.
Ecuadorian tour guide on the beach Magnificent frigatebird
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