Arrival in Galapagos

Today is a much easier travel day as we arrive into the Galapagos at 11:00 am after picking up an hour in the time zone exchange. What is remarkable about our arrival into the Galapagos is their heightened security, but not for reasons you might expect. All of our bags are hand searched, not for weapons but to ensure that people do not bring the smallest specimen of foreign plant or animal matter from outside the country (even mainland ecuador). The boys actually had small seeds (called Ecuador Ivory) that our guide in the Amazon found for them - these were confiscated. The authorities here are deeply concerned about introducing anything which might effect the delicate balance of the Galapagos eco-system. We meet our guide after collecting our luggage and soon arrive at our first lodging, the Red Mangrove on Santa Cruz Island. The boys spot the ocean frontage from the check-in desk and excited run out in search of crabs. They return moments later as ecstatic as Christmas morning to report that marine iquanas and sea lions are all over our hotel deck !! After settling in, we jounrey to a nearby beach for a refreshing swim and head back home in anticipation of tomorrows events!