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Has anyone been? What can you tell me about it?
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Travel
Galapagos Islands
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Daz
Tweeting about some totally unimportant event
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Walker wrote >>
Is this a common vacation spot? The only things I remember about it are from 8th grade science class. I think there are some weird animals there or something. ;)Extremely uncommon. I was just wondering if anybody had spent time studying it or had perchance been there. I'm really really excited for the opportunity.
Posted 3 years ago # -
jazzypants
Eastmoor
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I have been! I went for 5 days or so in 2001.
The way it works, is you are on a boat most of the time because it's just a chain of islands. I think only one island has a city on it. I was advised to try and get a boat as small as possible so that when we made a landing on an island we'd have fewer people with us. My boat was me, a family of 4 from Italy (little english, less spanish), a native Ecuadorian woman, a couple from italy with perfect English (and they had once lived in GRANDVIEW while he worked for BMW... small world). There was a tour guide and 2 assistants as well. It was great to have a small group but the boat was really harsh on the waves. I think maybe if I could do it again I'd go one step bigger. We were all seasick the whole time and one woman pretty much didn't eat for 3 days.
You're on the boat more than you're on land- there is a good distance between some islands so they'll travel it at night while you're sleeping... or trying to sleep as the boat slams down hard on the waves. Think of it more as camping than vacationing, unless you're in a hotel on the big island. I was uncomfortable for most of the trip, but on the other hand I didn't have to share nature with too many other people, and i got to see iguanas sneezing and sea lions burping and hike down into a lava tube, AND see my tour guide get chased across the beach by a bull sea lion (the can run pretty fast!). And being that I was on my way to a BS in Molecular Genetics at the time, it was very cool to see Darwin's finches and the turtles and all that.
And here's something surprising- even though you're at the equator, you're way way off the mainland and the water around the islands is very deep, so it's very cold, so it's actually not as warm as you'd think. I couldn't snorkel without a wetsuit and even then it was chilly. If you have visions of sunning yourself on the deck of the boat, think again- it's too cold and windy!
So... that's a little bit about the galapagos. If you want to hear obnoxious volumes of stories about Ecuador just say 'vaya'. :)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mae
Olde Towne East
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Daz wrote >>
There's about a 95% chance Jo and I will be there for a week in September.
Has anyone been? What can you tell me about it?I have wanted to visit the Galápagos Archipelago for decades now. The islands are part of the national park system of Ecuador. There is a profusion of marine life in the area. The land animals in many cases are unafraid of man and unique (endemic) species which Darwin used to support his theory of natural selection.
I'm beside myself with envy. You are a lucky, lucky person. Don't give up the chance to go. You will have a great time that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Core_Models
Columbus
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I've never been more jealous of you in my life D.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Daz
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It was amazing, phenomenal, breath taking, insert other adjectives.
I swam with sea turtles, sea lions, penguins, and sharks.
The animals have absolutely no fear of humans, or anything else really.
Jo put a stack of pics up on facebook. I'll get em up on my flickr account soon.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mercurius
First Avenue
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laChewla wrote >>
Your photos are AMAZING. So many boobies, I don't know what to do with myself!I was just reading about Great Tits on the Nytimes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/science/15obpredator.html?ref=scienceReally nice pics bud. There can never be too many boobies.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Daz
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Since most of the Galapagos is completely uninhabited, we stayed on a ship via Lindblad Expeditions. It held ~90 people and was really great. We had daily expeditions into different islands and snorkeling places, mostly led by people who were experts in the fields (geologists, botanists, marine biologists, etc.)
Jo actually took all of the pictures. She's a superstar behind the lens.
Posted 2 years ago # -
hungrywoolf
Victorian Village
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Wow, thanks for sharing the photos, they are really fantastic. Some of the close ups are amazing.
Posted 2 years ago # -
desecration
Harrison West
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Wow! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures. I've wanted to visit Galapagos Islands for a few years now and seeing these images makes me want to book a trip tomorrow.
Posted 2 years ago #
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