Galapagos; landscape and other things

A bus, two flights, another bus and a boat got us to the port of San Christobel where we explored for an afternoon before boarding our boat/home for the next 4 nights. The town itself was surprisingly built up; especially considering humans aren't native on the Galapagos and no one lived there at all until the late 18th century. The only thing that made it any different to any other fishing port was the sea lions lounging on any available surface

Our boat, the San Jose, was pretty spacious and comfortable (for a boat) with a bar, two sun decks and a restaurant that always served huge amounts of great food. two small dingys ferried us to and from our various calling points on the islands we visited.

Thanks to my epic levels of travel sickness I was taking medication for the whole time on the boat, which did make me very sleepy and a little light headed.

On the first day we visited Espanola island. Which is one of the oldest in the Galapagos and fairly flat and well eroded, and will soon sink below the waves. A great place for larger bird to raise their young as there are lots of open flat areas to practice their run ups and learn to fly. Saw loads of sea lions (these turn out to be absolutely everywhere!) marine iguanas, albatross, boobies (!), hawks and lava lizards. Also did two snorkels and saw rays, parrot fish, big schools of sergeant fish and amazingly playful sea lions that would come right up to you for a good look :D 

The next day saw a visit to Floreana island which was slightly younger and has fresh water from the higher points creating an interior lagoon; saw a flamingo (too far away for the camera). 

The colours of the beaches are determined by the chemicals and crystals in the lava of the rocks; one almost green and the other far more yellow. 

We also saw the famous blue footed boobie for the first time!

Final stop of the day was to the post office, historically where people from passing boats would leave letters for others to sift through and pick up if they were heading to near the destination address. We didn't post anything but picked up two cards for the UK; surrey near me and Twyford!

Final full day was at two newer islands created my more recent eruptions. The last in 1890s creating a moonscape like lava flow in amazing patterns;

The first plants were just staring to take hold;

The next island (bartholemew) was older and you could see the erosion and more plants stating to take hold. A lovely view point too! 

Before the end of the day we went for one of the best snorkels of my life; white tipped reef sharks, rays, being right next to a school of whitebait when a boobie dived in to catch one and also wonderful underwater rock formations from the cooling lava that were now perfect reefs for younger fish. Oh swan with penguins too :)

The final day was spent mostly travelling back to Quito, but did start with an epic early morning dingy trip to the mangroves on the edge of one island. Such a haven for reef sharks, sting rays, eagle rays and turtles you didn't know where to look! 

Do read matts posts for much more detail on the wildlife :)