In Punta Moreno, we walked on a long stretch of fissured pahoehoe lava to see a troupe of flamingoes trolling in a brackish pond. They were such clowns that you could imagine them in a Disney film, with their leader coaching them in a chorus line: “All together now, stretch necks, bob heads, wuk-wuk-wuk-wuk, flap wings, look around. Okay, all together now, stretch necks, bob heads…”
This island provided us with all three kinds of endemic cactus: the tree-like candelabra cactus, the fuzzy low-growing lava cactus, and the opunpia, a giant prickly pear with yellow flowers. (Almost all the flowers in the Galapagos are yellow; evidently there is only one species of bee, and these bees like yellow.) There were also penguins in the water, a multitude of blue-footed boobies on the rocks, and a truly huge species of marine iguanas, almost as big as any land iguana we’d seen.
Snorkeling from the pangas, we saw fish, although not as many as other places, black long-spined sea urchins, and sea turtles. At one point, I was delighting in watching the feet of a cormorant paddling along, when suddenly the bird plunged his head into the water and I was beak-to-goggles with a pair of buggy-black eyes and something very sharp indeed. Evidently I didn’t look like a fish, because he retracted the beak without pecking at me, and paddled onward.
A long haul during the rest of the afternoon. I stood by the rail with Bernard and Karin from Lyss, Switzerland, and watched the waves crashing thirty and forty feet high against the black cliffs. One after another, cinder cones poked up all along the shoreline. Again, we never saw another boat except for a panga which appeared out of nowhere to deliver three fresh, fat tuna. Let’s hear it for cell phones.
That evening we anchored in Puerto Villamil. The crew went ashore after supper, leaving us gazing after them from out in the harbor; but I think we had more fun, enjoying visits from sea lions and pelicans who thought our loading deck and panga looked like fine spots to hang out. We finally got to see how sea lions climb: we watched them as they flung themselves upward out of the water and got their chins or chests over the side of the panga, then sort of wriggled until their weight was more into the boat than out of it, then flipped the rest of the way in. It didn’t take more than a moment.
I spoke with at least a half dozen other travel companies, looking for a Galapagos cruise that fit our schedule and budget. Some companies could manage one or the other, but Erin was the only one who could do both. She found us the perfect cruise, at a fantastic price! And she has been quick and patient with responses to my many questions. So far, Adventure Life has been a fantastic company to work with!
Sandi T
2 weeks ago
Erin was patient, thorough, responsive, knowledgeable.
Karen Bukolt
3 weeks ago
Erin was responsive, knowledgeable, helpful, and ran through a few different choices with us. She got us a fabulous price on a trip, and made everything easy to do. And QUICK!!
Tina
1 month ago
From the initial meeting and planning process with our trip planner Jess, through to the finalizing of our itinerary, trip details and questions, I was very impressed with the professionalism, thoroughness, organization and attention to details. I would highly recommend Adventure Life to anyone looking to plan a unique travelling experience, knowing that the expertise and experience provided will result in a seamless trip of a lifetime.
Lynn Farquharson
1 month ago
Excellent suggestions I line with my desires on a Galapagos very last minute cruise.
Swift and professional guidance and assistance in booking the trip. Helped me realising a substantial saving.