Galapagos cruise 2/2 - snorkeling

Even though at the equator, the water in Galapagos is still very cold, 17-20˚C during my visit in end November. Meaning need to wear a very thick wet suit, or all of us on the boat wore two 3mm wet suits to combat the cold.

The attraction in the sea is not fish, which is less colourful than in tropical locations, but:

turtle

 -sea turtles, they flap their fins and glide so effortlessly in the water, unlike their land relatives.

sea lino pup

-sea lion pups, while waiting for parents to feed them, they have to move around to kill time. They are playful and curious, very happy to swim around tourists.

marine iguana

-sea iguanas, amazingly fierce prehistoric look, but they are vegetarian and eat seaweed. To watch them crawling like a spider-man on the rocky sea bed with their claws is unforgettable.

reef shark

-reef sharks, eats only molluscs (they said) and safe to be nearby, simply amazing to watch them swimming around.

Galapagos Cruise 1/2 - landscape and flora

 

Roca point Isabella island

Joining a cruise is a popular way to tour Galapagos, especially the further away sites and islands that are hard to get to on day trips.

dry landsscape

After staying at San Cristobal and Santa Cruz, I have already seen most of the flora and fauna in Galapagos. Joining a cruise to the other sites in reality means seeing more of the same but in larger quantity. 

Sierra Negra, lava filled caldera

The biggest benefits are to see more varied landscapes, and more snorkeling opportunities, which is the most rewarding thing to do.

opuntia cactus

Due to the cold Humboldt current from Antarctica, the Galapagos island has low level of rain, so very dry and arid, different forms of cactus are the main vegetation. 

Lava cactus

Candelabra cactus

Playa Manza at Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz, Galapagos

 

Santa Cruz is a bigger island and the most populated in Galapagos, more tourist facilities, more tourist shops, and more noise, a bit overwhelming after the tranquil San Cristobal. 

Playa Brava at Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz

Spent two days at Tortuga bay, it is so beautiful that it is worth going back, this time better equipped with wet suit, fins and lunch.

Playa Manza at Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz

Fantastic colours, there are so many shades of blues, from the sky and the sea, in this fine white sandy beach. Playa Manza is a long sheltered beach, with mangrove at both ends, the waves are huge far away outside, but in the bay the water is so calm, like swimming in an aquarium. 

reef shard, Playa Manza at Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz

 

Giant turtle Playa Manza at Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz

On the beach there are marine iguanas, in the mangrove edges there are reef sharks, harmless and eat molluscs only, in the middle are giant turtles, and a group of Cownose rays swam past, memorable experience to see them so close. 

Cownose ray, Playa Manza at Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz

Marine iguanas, San Cristobal, Galapagos

Marine iguanas, San Cristobal,

The only marine iguanas in the world, one of those animal with a prehistoric look. 

Marine iguanas, San Cristobal,

Black when they are small, and have metallic brown, green and pink colours as they grow big.

Marine iguanas, San Cristobal,

Marine iguanas stay out of the cold sea at night, only when the sun warms up will they start to move and get in the sea, feeding on algae.

Marine iguanas, San Cristobal,

 

Marine iguanas, San Cristobal,

Sea lions, San Cristobal, Galapagos

 Sea lions, San Cristobal,

Sea lions  are everywhere, at the pier, at the beaches and rocky coast. 

 Sea lions, San Cristobal

They know that this is their place, so just lie down anywhere they like, not bordered if there are people walking around or taking many photos.

 Sea lions, San Cristobal,

 Sea lions, San Cristobal

 

San Cristobal, Galapagos

It is worth staying at the more populated islands like San Cristobal and Santa Cruz, before joining a cruise, which is the most popular way of touring in Galapagos.

There is enough time to idle, to sit down and enjoy watching the abundant wildlife.

Landscape is mostly dry, due to the cold sea (even at the equator), there is very little rain.

Wonderful vegetable garden, Pumapungo, Ecuador

Inca wall, Pumapungo, Ecuador

Pumapungo is the site of a small Inca ruin, re-built with a huge garden sort of like 500 years ago how the Inca used to have. 

vegetable garden, Pumapungo, Ecuador

The vegetable garden is beautifully laid out, in a circle, with rings of local Andean vegetables. 

vegetable garden, Pumapungo, Ecuador

vegetable garden, Pumapungo, Ecuador

vegetable garden, Pumapungo, Ecuador

River walk, Cuenca, Ecuador

River walk, Cuenca, Ecuador

River walk, Cuenca, Ecuador

There are many cities with river flowing in the centre and have paths along it, this one in Cuenca, called Baranco, is one of the most natural. The grassy area along the river is very inviting to walk and to sit down to relax.  

River walk, Cuenca, Ecuador

River walk, Cuenca, Ecuador

Cuenca, world heritage city, Ecuador

Cuenca,  Ecuador

Cuenca is the second world heritage city in Ecuador, after the capital Quito, at 2300m, also surrounded by mountains.

Cuenca,  Ecuador

Cuenca,  Ecuador

Cuenca is more relaxing, greener, more stylish, better maintained, better to wander around than Quito.

Cathedral, Cuenca,  Ecuador

The view from the tower of the Cathedral is mesmerizing.

Cathedral, Cuenca,  Ecuador

Cathedral, Cuenca,  Ecuador

Nariz del Diablo, short train journey, Ecuador

Nariz del Diablo

Nariz del Diablo

A short journey in the mountain where in 40 minutes the train descend from 2500m to 1800m in several switchbacks. 

Nariz del Diablo, switchbacks

  

Nariz del Diablo, switchbacks

A great way to enjoy remote mountain scenery and at the same time appreciate the difficulty in building such rail system over a hundred years ago. 

Nariz del Diablo

Hiking at Chimborazo, Ecuador

At such high altitude, it is very hard to walk uphill, I managed to hike from 4000m to 4500m, in 2 hours, gasping all the time, very tiring. 

 

Chimborazo volcano

I want to hike up the slope a little bite to have a closer look at the snow capped mountain, the flora and fauna.

Vicuna at Chimborazo

There are a number of vicunas grazing, very nervous, will run away as they spot any movement. 

tussock grass, Chimborazo

The slope is covered with tussock grass, the same vegetation as in South Georgia near Antarctica. I have to keep reminding myself that Chimborazo is at the equator, just amazing similarity.

wild flower at Chimborazo

There are also small flowers and beautiful lichen. 

lichen at Chimborazo