Galapagos Islands - Day Eight - Santa Cruz (Black Turtle Cove)

Oh hi! The dreaded day 8 had arrived. We knew it had to come to an end, but were very sad about it all the same...but also very glad that we had changed our flights so that we didn't have to rush off later that day. That would have been pretty hard to do.

We got up super early for the morning activity to be ready to leave at 5:30. I went to the dining area to find a quite pissed off looking Lobo who said that we couldn't go yet because the crew weren't here. We then saw them all out of the window returning on one of the dinghies. The captain and his girlfriend came in and were all smiles. Lobo asked him when we could go...apparently it would be in about twenty miniutes. I guess that they had been having a last night party on someone elses boat! Lol. Ok...we'll wait then. I think Lobo was more pissed off than we were. It had been quite a funny and an unexpected aspect to the trip watching the captain and his girlfriend carrying on with each other!

A beautiful morning view.


When we finally got in the the dinghy we headed out over calm waters to the mangroves. Yeah we loved going out in the dinghy!


Sadly we weren't in the boat with Wilber driving it. Our driver was the one that Lobo described as 'zoning out'. He managed to scrape the engine on the rocks a few times, probably liquidised some fish and also towed the other dinghy right through the mangroves. Nice work, thanks.

Here's Wilber giving us a wave and one of his brilliant smiles.


Looking back towards Santa Cruz with our fist sighting of a large flock of Blue Footed Boobies. They were zooming around and feeding in formation in the distance.




We managed to get closer as they settled to preen after feeding.


The Blue footed Boobies preening and cleaning, using the oil gland on their back to re-oil feathers.


They were completely silent as we slowly passed.


A Turtle minding its own business in the shallows by the mangroves.


We could hear 'clipping' noises as the clams on the mangrove roots above the tide line, slammed firmy shut.


The water was clear enough to get a good look at this Green Turtle swimming along by the mangroves.


After we looked around the mangroves and came out into more open water we were lucky enough to get a closer look at the Blue Footed Boobies...they begun to fly towards us. It seemed like there were hundreds...


They started to do their plunge diving on mass into a shoal of fish...this was amazing to watch.


Lobo seemed quite amazed, apparently it was very lucky to see them feeding like this in such large numbers.




Flying around and over head to zoom down and plunge into the water much closer to us. It was very exciting!


They flew over and circled around again and then plunge dived in formation even closer to us! Now was a good time to duck!


I am really pleased with this photo, it really captures the experience! We were right in the midst of a feeding frenzy.


Here is a video with sound of the action!


It was just as spectacular to watch them fly off again.


It really was a brilliant experience to end on. We went back to the boat and had a last breakfast and a laugh with Kirsty and Johann. Before the boat dropped us off at Isla Baltra.

The only seating available at the jetty at Isla Baltra was fully occupied! The sign on the benches says 'Government of Galapagos'. How fitting!


We then got a bus to the airport were we said our goodbyes to the group who were flying out, and nipped off to get our passports stamped with the Galapagos national park emblem, the most impressive stamp so far.

We got a bus and then a ferry back to Santa Cruz with Uri, Einat, Jessy and Daniella who were also spending some more time in the Galapagos, and then proceeded to find some accomodation. We agreed to all meet up later in the afternoon after visiting some of the tour companies. We were hoping to arrange a visit to Isla Bartolome as I had read that it had a large colony of penguins and it was even possible to snorkle with them. They were the one animal we were still desperate to see.

Booking a trip anywhere proved far more difficult than we had anticipated. Quite quickly we realised that there was only one boat going to Bartolome and this was being offered by all the tour operators. It turned out they had only one seat on the only boat that was leaving in our timescale. We were quite gutted, so enquired about chartering a boat ourselves. Uri and Jessy (the Spanish speakers) negotiated with a tour company but the timing of this didn't work for everyone's needs.

We also looked into going to Isla Isabela and there was a 2 night package with various activities that looked interesting, food and accomodation included. We had a final drink with Uri and Einat later that night who had booked a scuba trip for early the next morning and said our goodbyes to them. We had really enjoyed meeting them and hoped to keep in contact

The next morning we bumped into Jessy and Daniella at a cafe and had breakfast with them. They had decided to move their flight forward and leave sooner to go elsewhere, so wouldn't be joining us on Isabela or Bartolome. We arranged to have a last lunch with them later in the day and they kindly let us leave our luggage in thier room.

So finally we made the descision to go to Isla Isabela with Moonrise travel in order to make the most of our time and money. We (actually me really) even quizzed the nice lady about the prospect of seeing penguins...she thought we were mad, but assured us it was possible! So all we had left to do was catch the ferry at 2pm and we were on our way to Isla Isabela!