Quito to Baltra & North Seymour Island, Galapagos - 2011

Sunday, Quito to Baltra.

We were up early for breakfast and ready for the bus ride to the airport. From there we were put on another bus to get to our plane. Our luck with airlines continued….. We all got through security and took the bus to the private charter and actually boarded the plane. There were issues with the plane and we were taken off the plane and bused back to the airport to wait…..and wait…..and wait…..

Of course, the people from the previous weeks’ cruise were waiting for our plane to arrive so they could depart. It took so many hours that Celebrity took them back to the ship and gave them lunch (which was supposed to be our welcome aboard lunch….) and they watched a movie and were then returned to the airport when they knew our plane was in the air. Not treated so well on our end. It was past lunch time and we were hungry, but no food was offered. We were supposed to have lunch on the ship and the first excursion was to start that afternoon. (a very important one with lots of animals to see).

Finally, they got a different plane and we were on our way. Arrived in Baltra 2.5 hours later after being served a nice lunch on the plane.

While still on the plane we see a huge land iguana on the tarmac. We were then put on buses to take us to the Pangas (Zodiac style rigid inflatable boats that hold about 12 – 16 people) that would take us to the ship. At the dock where we waited to board the pangas, we got our first glimpse of sea lions. Laying on the dock and swimming in the water. 

plane from Quito to Baltra

I guess he's the welcome iguana....

Baltra airport

me walking to the airport

the first sea lion sighting at the pier

on the panga to the ship

They greeted everyone with drinks and snacks as we boarded the Celebrity Xpedition which is a 92 passenger mega-yacht. We were to have a briefing and lifeboat drill, but it was so late and only a few hours of daylight left and Celebrity chose to get us all on Pangas and still do as much of our tour as we could. Highly commend them for doing that. It was handled well and we were rewarded with some of the best wildlife of the trip. The Xpedition doesn’t dock so we tender to shore on the pangas for each excursion. Some are dry landings and others are wet landings where you hop off into the water and wade to shore.

Isla North Seymour was a dry landing, rocky terrain about 1.2 miles on an uneven path with small boulders along the path. Since we were there towards the end of the rainy season everything was lush and green with lots of flowers. We saw tons of Frigate birds with the inflated red pouches that impress the lady Frigate birds, sea lions, land iguanas, and our first sighting of the Blue Footed Boobies. They were doing the mating dances trying to entice the female of their choice. We watched one female being courted by 2 males doing the foot lifting, head bobbing and tail feathers in the air while showing her the place they think would be a good nesting place. (the bluer the foot and the higher they can lift it is quite the turn on for the female.) 

Sea Lions

Blue-footed Booby

Jorje, one of the guides

part of the trail

Swallow-tailed Gull

Land Iguana

Lava Lizard

Ruddy Turnstone

Frigatebird

Western Galapagos Racer

Blue-footed Boobies mating dance

another Racer

wow, that should impress the ladies....

Marine iguanas in tree

the dance really got going....

land iguana

Frigatebird in flight

lava lizard

Frigatebird feeding chick

It was getting dark and we had to head back to the ship. We hopped back onto the panga to the ship and back in our cabin we unpacked our carry-ons wishing we had all of our luggage. 

sun starting to set

panga ride back to the ship

"coffin" shaped beds - they were wider at the top and then narrowed at your feet

We got cleaned up for the evening which started with the naturalists briefing of the next day’s excursions and we signed up for our choice of tours. Generally, two are offered at each port. One is longer and more physical and a shorter one that involves more panga ride than walking. Something for everyone! They let you know what may be possible to see on each and what type of footwear is needed for each. There is no worry that you won’t get your choice. They have enough naturalists and pangas to accommodate everyone and schedule the tours accordingly. We always chose the longer excursions. 

Then we went to dinner in the Darwin dining room. It was always open seating so you go when you want and shorts are fine for dinner. Many interesting people to chat with over dinner. Then off to bed for an early start. 

Each day had the same rhythm of breakfast, morning excursion, freshen up for lunch and relax until the afternoon excursion or go to the movies or lectures offered, quick shower and head to the naturalists briefing to find out about the next day’s tours and sign up, then dinner around 8 or 9 and evening entertainment or star gazing or watching sea lions and sharks feed near the ship and then off to bed to start all over again.

Tomorrow, we have 3 excursions since we will circumnavigate Kicker Island at sunrise before the usual A.M. & P.M. tours. 

Quito to Baltra & North Seymour walk, Galapagos https://photos.app.goo.gl/9mG4rTBy77TtCaXQA