The Galápagos has four inhabited islands: Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela, and Floréana. The other islands are not inhabited by humans, and do not permit any over-night stays. In fact, they are only accessible from 6 am to 6 pm. There are 2 airports, one on Baltra and the other on San Cristóbal.

Even from Ecuador, getting to the Galápagos Islands is an experience quite possibly not for the apprehensive traveler. From Quito we took the 45 minute cab ride to the airport then flew to Baltra, which other than the airport, is uninhabited. (Baltra was a US Army Air Force base during WWII and after the war the facilities were given to the Ecuadorian government.) Flying into Baltra was such a disappointment, it is a desert wasteland, and I mistakenly thought I was flying into this tropical paradise with giant tortoises and unique vegetation!

From the airport we took a bus (5-10 minutes) to the Ferry Docks and then a Ferry (10 minutes) to Santa Cruz.

From the docks at Santa Cruz we hired a taxi and took the 45 minute ride to our hotel. Santa Cruz was much more how I expected the Galápagos Islands to be. Lush, tropical, beautiful, mountains, ocean, everything I was expecting. Our hotel was small, quaint and off the main drag far enough so it was quiet but close enough to walk to everything.

We did not waste much time at the hotel and we were off to explore the downtown. What we found was everything we had been hoping for. Small little shops and restaurants, friendly charming people, and the piers.  One pier seemed to be for tourist transport and the other more for fishing boats. We walked along both and that is when we came to realize that the benches on the fishing pier were more for Sea Lions than people (well at least the Sea Lions seemed to think so!) And the piers themselves were lounging places for the Sea Lions. It was crazy, it’s the first time in my life that I had to actually step over a Sea Lion. He/she was not about to move for me.

The Sea Lions, Pelicans and Lizards all seem to share space very well.

There was one grocery store on Santa Cruz and as you can see even the bicycle rack was free game for Sea Lion lounging.

Tomorrow is the Darwin Research Lab and the Ocean, but not sure I will have time to post for a few days.