Fly to Baltra | Embark Monserrat | El Chato, Santa Cruz

Good morning! We're starting our Day 4 very early as we are catching up on an early flight going to the Galapagos Islands. We woke up around 4 in the morning, prepared ourselves and packed our things once more as our call time to meet with our driver is before 5 am.

So, about 5 a.m., we went down to the lobby, had a delicious coffee while checking out, and the lovely front desk personnel brought us our breakfast on the go - yay!

We met our driver quickly after receiving our breakfast boxes, and he immediately showed us to our vehicle to the airport. We definitely felt like VIPs during the ride - it was more than big enough for the two of us!

Upon arrival at the airport, the cruise operator's representative was waiting for us - he's standing in an easy to see spot and holding a sign with our last names so we didn't have any difficulties in locating him. After introducing himself, he gave us our Monserrat luggage tags, Transit Control Cards and provided us water bottles from the cruise - another yay for the day! He also helped us with our check in with LATAM Airlines, until our bags were scanned.

Just a couple of minutes and we're off the sky! The plane is now smaller which makes you feel the turbulence more but thanks to the breathtaking views and sweet treats from the airline, we're far from being nauseous until our stop in Guayaquil and until we land at the Baltra Airport. Of course we need to take a mandatory picture at the welcome arch of the first ecological airport. Yes - you read that right! Galapagos Ecological Airport (formally Seymour Airport) is the first ecologically friendly airport in the world having been awarded the LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council. Cool right?

The Galapagos Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador, are known for their unique and diverse wildlife and is a destination like no other! The islands are home to many species found nowhere else in the world, and they have become a popular destination for ecotourism. Among the different regions of the Galapagos, the Central East and Southern Islands offer some of the most impressive sights and experiences - I'll share with you what makes these islands so special and why they should be on your travel bucket list!

We then queue up on the line as we need to pass the customs where we need to present our travel documents such as passport and Transit Control Card, and pay the Galapagos National Park Fee of $100 (payable in cash only). After passing through customs, we collected our luggage that underwent x-ray control and K-9 security inspection. Our Naturalist Guide, Oswaldo, met us and we boarded a bus to the harbor, which took approximately 10 - 15 minutes. We were asked to wear life vests when we arrived at the dock since we needed to board a panga/dinghy to Monserrat, our home for a couple of days while on this maritime adventure!

Welcome aboard! We boarded Monserrat and were instructed to remove our shoes and place them in a designated space near the entrance. We were greeted with pleasant smiles from the personnel, light snacks, and instructions before showing us to our cabin. We explored our air-conditioned cabin, which has twin beds beside each other with towels designed as animal creatures, areas where we can keep our luggage and other stuff/personal belongings, a big window that will allow us to appreciate the majestic views every day, and a private bathroom with complete amenities (shampoo, conditioner, soap). What's the best part? Just outside the cabin, there is a pathway that might be termed a communal balcony!

Now it's time for lunch - we had a delicious mixture for lunch that helped us refuel for the afternoon's trip.

Now where to? None other than El Chato Ranch! So we took a panga and did a dry landing. After landing, we rode a bus going to El Chato Ranch. Here, we had the opportunity to wander along volcanic tubes and walk with Galápagos giant tortoises who lived for hundreds of years! Yes - El Chato Ranch is a popular destination located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The ranch is known for its giant tortoises, which are the main attraction for visitors. They offer visitors the opportunity to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat, as they roam freely around the property. Visitors can observe the tortoises up close and learn about their behavior, life cycle, and conservation efforts to protect them. They also feature several lava tunnels that visitors can explore, which are a unique geological feature of the Galapagos Islands. The tunnels were formed by molten lava that flowed underground and eventually solidified, leaving behind a network of interconnected tunnels.

We were given time to recover in their café after nearly 3 hours of going here and there and taking pictures nonstop. You may get light snacks and buy souvenirs here (but don't be startled by the price - it's about three times more expensive than buying them at the Otavalo Market!). We finished before 5 pm, took the bus back to the panga and back to our boat.

We had our orientation for the next day at 6:30 p.m. Our Naturalist Guide detailed our activities for the next day and reminded us of what to bring and other details for the upcoming adventures.

We had dinner, of course. I failed to mention that every time we eat on board, we get an appetizer, main course, dessert, and drink. You'll feel ecstatic and want to curl up in your bed afterwards!