Galápagos Islands
- lydiawalton
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
Oct - Nov 2023
I travelled to the Galápagos Islands near the end of 2023 with two of my closest friends who also happen to be marine biologists. We thought this trip would center on our love of the ocean, which in many ways it did, but were surprised by how incredible the islands were themselves. The people were wonderful, the food was delicious, and you couldn't walk more than 15 minutes along the coast without seeing pelicans and blue-footed boobies diving for fish. Galápagos tortoises roamed the forests (and occasionally the highways) while Sally lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas crowded the intertidal.
The top dive site on this trip was Kicker Rock (León Dormido) near San Cristóbal. A massive bait ball eclipsed the sun when we swam through, feeling more like a lightless cave than a moving school. A small group of scalloped hammerhead sharks emerged from the blue for a quick (and close) pass before heading back out into the open ocean.
Back on shore we explored lava tunnels, volcanic arches, and beaches filled with mangroves and marine iguanas.
The Galápagos Islands are widely known as the home of the giant tortoise, which generally live for 80 - 120 years and can weigh up to 415 kg. These slow moving creatures often had moss and sometimes whole plants growing on their shells while they sunbathed or sank into the mud.
On each island we visited (Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, and Isla Isabela), we were always greeted by Galápagos sea lions lounging on beaches, docks, and occasionally inside local boats. It wasn't until we snorkeled off Bartolomé Island, however, that we were able to interact with them under the water. The sea lions were incredibly curious and playful, swimming in spins and somersaults around us. A surprise visit from a Galápagos penguin briefly stole attention away from the sea lion's acrobatics, but they made sure to steal back the show before we returned to the boat.
Comments