South American Travels

Galapagos

Note: I was younger, and this was the first vacation where I decided to take any notes at all, so they are slightly more disorganized and not the usual log of trips as in the other sections.

Santa Cruz
Saw:

Marine and land iguanas have the same ancestor. In South Plaza, Galapagos, there is interbreeding of marine and land iguanas called "weirdos of the South Plaza".

Espagñola (Hood)
Morning - Hike:
Sea lions - came right up to us. Many differences between seals and sea lions. There are only sea lions in the Galapagos. Sea lions can walk on four fins vs seals can only support themselves on front fins and slide along. Also sea lions have ear flaps, vs seals have ear holes.
Albatroses, mocking birds, marine iguanas, lava lizards, nasca boobies, Galapagos dove (red feet), small ground finches.

Afternoon - Snorkling/Beach:
Puffer, yellow tail sergent (big schools), cornet fish, angelfish, spider snake, rainbow, burr fish, sea stars
Over 24,000 species of fish here. Baskin shark/wale shark: 45 - 50 ft, biggest fish.

Floreanna
Pre-Breakfast:
"Post office" - Large box where people put letters. Other people visiting can take letters out and hand-deliver them to addressee.
Took zodiac to sea lion colonies
Snorkle:
White tip reef shark, Mexican hawk fish, yellow tail sergents, sea lion, yelow pyramid sea star, stripped aholehole, black fin cardinal, stink ray.
Hike:
flamingos, sea turtle

Isabella
Pelican landed on zodiac, saw penguins. This is the furthest north penguins go because of the cold water currents: Humboldt (south), Cromwell (west) - whales and dolphins, and Niño (north).

Fernandina
Snorkle:
Penguins (real close)
Walk:
lava cactus, lava lizards, sea lions (cute practice fought), marine iguanas (so many), sally light-foots
Bioluminescnece in plankton here. Sticks to sea lions and dolphins to appear as if they are wearing diamonds in the water.

Santa Cruz
Charles Darwin Research Center. Hike, Farm - tortoises, vermillion flycatchers, cattle egret.

Genovesa (Tower Island)
Hike: red-footed boobies, swallow-tail gull, lava gull, friget
Snorkel: spotted ray
Afternoon hike: red - billed tropic birds, many nesting nasca boobies - saw one newly born, frigets.

Bartolome
Pre-breakfast hike:
Climbed many steps, at top, beautiful view
Morning walk:
Climbed sand dune to see many turtles mating and nesting. Also lots of sharks in shallow water near shore.
Afternoon snorkle:
Fish followed us. Turtles, one tried to climb on top of other (to mate?) but then they separated. Sea lions very playful. Shark. Many sting rays. Sea lions swimming with you so close.
Great!