In August 2008 we traveled with the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Photos are split across three posts and are roughly in chronological order, subdivided by location. And yes, there are way too many pictures of sea lions and iguanas.
Baltra
(August 10 & 17) Baltra Island is the starting — and ending — point of Galapagos journeys, as that’s where the airstrip happens to be. The Galapagos Islands are 621 miles off the coast of Ecuador which was about a 2 ½ hour flight from Quito. After landing on a runway that seems to be almost the length of the entire island, it’s a short bus ride to the dock where you hop in a Zodiac and make your way out to the ship. Half of the images in this small gallery were taken during our arrival, the rest when we were leaving.
Three of the naturalist guides with our group grew up in the islands and when asked about the impact tourism has had on the islands over the years, Juan Carlos said it looks just like he remembers it as a child. There are just as many birds and animals as there have always been. The extensive conservation and research taking place in the Galapagos is largely funded by tourism. This poignant quote was painted on the wall of a museum we visited.
“Until recently the future of humans depended on the islands. Today, the future of the islands depends on humans.”
– Centro de Interpretacion, San Cristobal Island
North Seymour
(August 10) Our first stop was at North Seymour Island, which provides an immediate immersion into some of the most famous wildlife settings in the Galapagos: Blue-footed Boobies, Frigates, iguanas and sea lions, oh my!
North Seymour is a very small island formed from tectonic uplifts, so it is flat and open with a variety of shrubs and cacti that have adapted to the very arid environment. It was once attached to Santa Cruz and Baltra so it has a similar look, but is notable for its abundant birdlife. The guides led us on a two kilometer walk along a rather rocky trail that gave us our first taste of what was to come in the week ahead.
Kicker Rock
(August 11) Kicker Rock is simply an enormous chunk of rock sticking almost straight up out of the water. There are no Starbucks.
San Cristobal Island
(August 11) We spent the morning in the small harbor town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno that seems to specialize in souvenir shops. The focus of our visit to the town was to visit the Centro de Interpretacion, which is a museum of human history in the Galapagos. Along with telling the historical tale of the famous explorers and early settlers, the exhibits illustrated the related impact on nature and the resulting education and conservation programs. Through education resources like this center, local residents have come to embrace the value in conservation of the unique ecosystem in which they live.
Espanola Island
(August 11) Espanola lies at the Southern tip of the archipelago and is the oldest island, at least above water. We went on a three kilometer walk seeing lots of wildlife and a stunning coast line.
Other Pages
Go to Part 2: Floreana, Bachas Beach, Bartolome, Urbina Bay, Fernadia
Go to Part 3: Santiago, Puerto Ayora, Dragon Hill, Highlands, Quito
