After breakfast we board a traditional style bus which has seats and a roof but no sides and we ascend to the highlands where we visit another giant tortoise sanctuary. This provides another great opportunity to interact with these remarkable animals at close range in their natural environment. After this, we embark on a short hike to unique rock formations as well as caves and rock carvings which are believed to have been used as a hiding place by pirates and buccaneers. They are said to have chosen Floreana as a hide-out because it is one of the only Galapagos Islands to have a natural fresh-water source. By late morning, we board another fast boat (as they call them) to our next destination, Isabela Island. Isabela is the largest of the Galapagos Islands and contributes 60% of the total land mass. Our accommodation is a little adobe style building fronting on a large sand beach. After lunch, we travel by water taxi and are taken to an old lava flow which extends out into the ocean, La Tintorenas. This is home to colonies of both sea lions and marine iquanas. The marine iguanas are particularly abundant and we see everything from 3 inch babies to 2 foot daddies. As we return from La Tintorenas, we drop anchor and jump over the side for another snorkel. We are hoping that the sea lions will join us for a swim but we didn't see any in the water - we settle for more sea turtles, rays and brilliant fish instead. On our boat ride back we pass a colony of blue-footed boobies (still the boys favorite joke) and are even treated to an appearance by the rare Galapagos penguin. To end our day, we head back to the lodge and the boys play in the sand and surf before bed.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.