Blogs from Galápagos, Ecuador, South America - page 11

GORDON ROCKS Promptly at 6:30 a.m. we gathered at the dive store, then walked to the pier and boarded the boat. It was a small cabin cruiser, like most of the others in the bay. Somehow I thought everything would be gilded in the Galapagos. The boat was unexceptional. The dive masters and captain were knowledgeable and the divers were friendly. We all got in the water where our boat was anchored to test our weights because it was imperative that we could submerge quickly when we got to our dive site, due to strong currents and rough seas. Then we snorkeled for a while because two young people were doing an open water course before our dive. We snorkeled close to the rocks where sea lions were playing in the surf. Unfortunately I am not ... read more

When flying to the Galapagos, the excitement already starts at the airport. Before boarding all luggage goes through an agricultural inspection to make sure you don't bring fruits, seeds or animals that can upset the islands' fragile ecosystem. It is a constant struggle to preserve the island in the way it has been for thousands of years. Most of the damage to the ecosystem was probably done in the period after the first discovery in the 16thcentury. At the time, ships introduced dogs, cats, rats and horses which all posed a threat to endemic species. A few hundred years later most islands in the Archipelago have now been restored to a more original balance. The Galapagos Islands have a lot to offer in the skies, on land as well as under water; and we were determined ... read more

The Wonders of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands By William Graham Poet, novelist and travel writer William Graham is a resident of Stowe, Vermont. He is the author of “Seven Continents: A Travel Memoir." His most recent novella is "Greenfields." As my fourth-grade son Jackson and I struggled against the wind at 15,000 feet of elevation on the ash-covered slopes of the Andean volcano Cotopaxi, we caught a rare glimpse of an Andean wolf slowly descending from the cloud-covered summit of 19,000 feet. The dark brown canine gave us a quick glance and then loped away into the swirling mist. As we descended, we saw majestic Andean condors hovering over the valley below. This magical encounter was just one of many Jackson and I had on our recent adventure trip to Ecuador and the ... read more

If you've heard of the Galapagos Islands, you know that they were the basis for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. You might not be a science buff, and that's okay, because the Galapagos Islandshave plenty to offer in the way of stunning tropical waters, interesting wildlife, and pristine wilderness. I took a few cruises through the Galapagos Islands and it's been one of the most unique experiences of my life. If you're thinking about taking Galapagos Island cruises, stop thinking and just book it! When to Go to the Islands When I was planning my trip, there was a lot of talk about high versus low seasons. April, May, September, and October are the typical "low months" for Galapagos Island tours. There are fewer travelers and many cruise operators lower their fares during these times. During ... read more

I decided to skip breakfast, which in hindsight was a great decision. A day of scuba diving lay ahead at Gordon Rocks, just off Santa Cruz Island and the sea was rougher today causing some of us to feel a little sea sick. We stopped off near the dive site so that the new divers could check their gear and be briefed on hand signals. In the meantime we admired the sea life by the rocks. The blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, sea lions among others. On the boat was a biologist, who passed me his binoculars pointing out all of the animals. It was a really great to hear about all of the animals from an expert and to see them so close. We approached the rocks, where the current felt much more strong and the ... read more