Galapagos Island was a surreal and privileged experience for those last 8 days. Each of the 10 islands that I was fortunate to visit were so different.
Here are some of my ‘better’ photos in no particular order. I took as usual far too many to choose from, but rest assure that I did take time to sit and absorb the setting that these unique and rare animals live in. Like Africa, we were visitors to their environment. What was better? Overland in Africa; the expansive white snowy and icy landscape, penguins and orcas of Antarctica; or now the Galapagos Islands? All very different and I would gladly re-visit any (or all!) of the three places again at a drop of a hat.
My memories:
Walking through the dramatic and varied landscape which I tried to capture through my lens, the various eruptions forming these enchanted islands, even as young as just over 100 years ago.
Here on the Galapagos Islands we could get oh so close to the animals. Literally I would be right besides them and they showed absolutely no fear of us humans or vice versa, except my first encounter with the white tip sharks til I was gladly told that they were harmless to us humans.
On land ,it was an ‘in your face’ experience with the 100 + year giant tortoise or even better still the pre-historic iguanas, especially the colourful golden land ones. Seeing the albatross fly or the blue boobies, yes, with their blue web feet of course and then the male frigates flying overhead or on land with their big red pouch fully inflated to attract the females.
Underwater, besides being amongst the many tropical fishes,
swimming above, alongside or even in front of the graceful green sea turtles,
seeing the playful young sea lions doing flips and circles underwater or
having the white tip reef sharks glide gracefully beneath me,
it was finally the Galapagos penguins who normally dart about under water, but these 2 who allowed me the privilege to swim with them for so long on my last snorkel, I consider this to be a fitting conclusion to this part of my trip.
Note: These are an initial and a quick selection at random of some of my ‘favourites’ plus giving you some of the coverage.
To be labelled later. Opphs ... sorry about the "slopy" photos ie the horizon is not level!
Enjoy.
Galapagos Islands SUMMARY
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Baltra, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Other Entries
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22Swimming with the sharks, sea lions & turtles
Dec 296 days priorSouth Plaza Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera42videocam 13comment 0 -
23Sting Rays, Crabs & Turtles
Dec 305 days priorFloreana, Ecuadorphoto_camera64videocam 0comment 0 -
24Devil’s Crown - snorkelling
Dec 305 days priorFloreana, Ecuadorphoto_camera43videocam 10comment 0 -
25Post Office Bay - NO stamps required
Dec 305 days priorFloreana, Ecuadorphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 0 -
26Sea Turtles and me
Dec 305 days priorFloreana, Ecuadorphoto_camera25videocam 11comment 0 -
27Galapagos albatross
Dec 314 days priorIsla Espanola, Ecuadorphoto_camera260videocam 0comment 0 -
28Sea lions as sunbathing companions
Dec 314 days priorEspanola Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera67videocam 0comment 0 -
29Graceful Sea Lions underwater
Dec 314 days priorEspanola, Ecuadorphoto_camera40videocam 8comment 0 -
30Interpretation Centre
Jan 013 days priorPuerto Baquerizo Moreno, Ecuadorphoto_camera33videocam 0comment 0 -
31Lobos Is
Jan 013 days priorSan Cristobal, Ecuadorphoto_camera36videocam 0comment 0 -
32Swimming with the sharks again
Jan 022 days priorNorth Seymour, Ecuadorphoto_camera23videocam 12comment 0 -
33The Frigates with their big red pouch
Jan 022 days priorNorth Seymour, Ecuadorphoto_camera71videocam 2comment 0 -
34Who needs Sea Life Park?
Jan 022 days priorMosquera Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera71videocam 7comment 0 -
35Lava = Moonscape = black pack ice
Jan 031 day priorSantiago Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera63videocam 0comment 0 -
36Swimming with the penguins
Jan 031 day priorBartolome Is , Ecuadorphoto_camera51videocam 9comment 0 -
37375 steps to the TOP
Jan 031 day priorBartolome, Ecuadorphoto_camera67videocam 0comment 0 -
38Charles Darwin Research Centre
Jan 04earlier that dayPuerto Ayora, Ecuadorphoto_camera60videocam 0comment 0 -
39Galapagos Islands SUMMARY
Jan 04Baltra, Ecuadorphoto_camera74videocam 0comment 5 -
40Cuy or Guinea Pig for dinner
Jan 051 day laterQuito, Ecuadorphoto_camera15videocam 0comment 0 -
41Midnight & 4.30 am city bus tour
Jan 062 days laterGuayaquil, Ecuadorphoto_camera3videocam 0comment 0 -
42Amazing Race - Bruce style
Jan 062 days laterCusco, Peruphoto_camera40videocam 0comment 0 -
43Bruce’s Lonely Planet Walking Tour
Jan 073 days laterCusco, Peruphoto_camera123videocam 0comment 0 -
44Cusco City Tour
Jan 073 days laterCusco, Peruphoto_camera159videocam 0comment 0 -
45A Sacred Valley tour and hotel for ONE
Jan 084 days laterYucay, Peruphoto_camera159videocam 0comment 0 -
46Machu Picchu - Entry one
Jan 095 days laterAguas Calientes, Peruphoto_camera273videocam 0comment 0 -
47Machu Picchu - Entry two
Jan 106 days laterCusco, Peruphoto_camera87videocam 0comment 0 -
48Cusco - last day
Jan 117 days laterCusco, Peruphoto_camera39videocam 0comment 0 -
49Travel God was watching over me
Jan 128 days laterPuno, Peruphoto_camera151videocam 0comment 0 -
50Uros floating reed Island & Taquile Island
Jan 139 days laterPuno, Peruphoto_camera92videocam 0comment 0 -
51Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun)
Jan 1410 days laterLa Paz, Boliviaphoto_camera136videocam 0comment 0 -
52Sucre - why spend 3 nights here?
Jan 1511 days laterSucre, Boliviaphoto_camera66videocam 0comment 0 -
53Sucre Orphanage - very brief bit of volunteer work
Jan 1612 days laterSucre, Boliviaphoto_camera101videocam 0comment 0 -
54No power, no water yet only 20 km from the capital
Jan 1713 days laterSucre, Boliviaphoto_camera113videocam 0comment 0 -
55Potosi Royal Mint
Jan 1814 days laterPotosi, Boliviaphoto_camera150videocam 0comment 0 -
56Down into the mines
Jan 1915 days laterUyuni, Boliviaphoto_camera109videocam 0comment 0 -
57Salt Plains & crazy perspective pictures
Jan 2117 days laterVilla Alota, Boliviaphoto_camera285videocam 0comment 0
Comments

2023-11-28
Eve
2012-01-05
Absolutley wonderful!
Heidi
2012-01-05
Looking good Bruce! Amazing pics!
Gloria
2012-01-06
Great photos I was really waiting to see these ones and I was not disappointed
Susan Joe
2012-01-06
Hi Bruce, thanks for the fabulous photos, the animals look so cute! Glad you are having a wonderful time. All the best for Lima.
Regards,
Sue
don weber
2012-01-06
Good pics!!! Recognized most of the animals and birds except for large red-shirted one, looks like mailing a letter?????