Got up at 5:00 am. Left Hilton Colon in Guayaquil to arrive at airport for short 1 1/2 hour flight to islands 1 hour delay but still arrived on San Cristobal island (third largest) by 10:00 am. Took shuttle to boat launch where we boarded a National Geographic Zodiac. We were greeted by several sea lions bathing in the sun.
Boarded National Geographic Endeavour.
Attended several lectures on weeks activities and policies and procedures. Found out that there are approximately 180,000 visitors to the Galapagos year. Compare that with Disney or Yellowstone. Extremely strict here. Prohibited to bring ANY food, gum, wrappers, etc. on any of the islands. Metal water bottles are permitted. Glad to see how proud Ecuador is of it's country ad has continued to preserve this pristine archipelago.
At 3:30 we had our first island expedition. Took Zodiac to Cerro Brujo (Wizard Hill) where we were again greeted by sleeping sea lions. They weren't the least bit frightened and we just quietly walked by them. Be sure to check out my pictures and video of them in action.
Tomorrow we are headed to Isla Espanola. This is the world that Charles Darwin visited in 1835. We hope to see marine iguanas, blue footed and Nazca boobies and endemic albatrosses. Isn't this place the most beautiful place you have ever seen? I can't believe it didn't become claimed by Ecuador or any other country until the 1930's.
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