Galapagos 2012

To ring in the New Year 2012, we flew back from the US on a flight that landed in Lima just after the stroke of midnight on January 1. The result was that we were treated to an amazing display of fireworks from every neighborhood of the city - indeed, nearly every street corner.
After celebrating New Year's Day with friends and showing our faces at work for a week, we started off the year 2012 with a trip to the Galapagos Islands...!

This is definitely a trip for the bucket list.

The Galapagos are unique, fascinating, and still very pristine. Located 1,000 kilometers from the mainland (Ecuador), they sit right on the equator. But thanks to the cold water of the Humboldt and other currents, the temperatures are mild even in mid summer. And the wildlife, including marine life, is remarkable and rich.

Though the islands are relatively close to each other, they are surprisingly diverse in flora, fauna, and atmosphere. Some are lush and green, others dry or barren. The colors vary from a deep black volcanic rock to rich red.  The ocean water is clear and blue. You can see sharks and sea turtles from a boat - or up close and personal while snorkeling, as we did.

The numbers of visitors and boats are strictly regulated, so that you are never part of a crowd - well not a human crowd. The animals are completely unafraid of humans, so you can go right up to them. Or they'll come right up to you.

 Land iguana on Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill

 Sea lion emerging from the shade on Rabida Island

 The famous Blue-footed Booby.

 Crabs and sparkling blue water

 Marine iguana on Rabida Island

 Family shot from the top of Rabida Island

 Looking down from the top of Rabida, you can see our ship, The Odyssey,  which was great. Very professional crew and guide. Spacious rooms and decks. Even a small jacuzzi.

 Ready for snorkeling, which we got to do several times. The marine life is amazing. Fish of all colors, including parrot fish, clown fish, and countless others swimming in schools and bright colors. We also swam with sea lions, sea turtles, and several reef sharks (didn't see any hammerheads), and saw plenty of sting rays in different shapes and sizes.

 On an island called Chinese Hat, which we shared with lots of sea lions and their pups, some Galapagos hawks, and a fair number of marine iguanas

 Galapagos penguins. Watching them chase schools of little fish in the water was a treat.

 The island of Genovesa is just north of the Equator. The boat goes into a lagoon, which is actually a big volcanic crater filled with water. Above on the rocks are lots (!!) of birds.

 On Genovesa

 This is a Red-footed Booby, among the very many on Genovesa

 On Darwin Bay, Genovesa, we decided we'd like a family shot with the sea lion...

 ..she decided to be a more integral part of the photo...

 ... and having posed with the group, decided to take a nap.

 Jumping off the ship at sunset.

 Climbing to the top of Bartolome Island

 Master and Commander view from the top of Bartolome, that's the Pinnacle Rock.

 Gwinner guys on Bartolome

 Walking on the rope lava of Bartolome. Not a very inviting landscape.

 The designs in the lava are impressive.

 In the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, we finally saw the famous Galapagos tortoises.

 With some Nazca Boobies on Genovesa Island

 Beautiful beaches and water, amazing wildlife, what's not to like?

 View from a hilltop in Guayaquil, on the mainland of Ecuador

Guayaquil, departure and arrival point for many of the Galapagos flights