Day 15, good bye Galapos and Back to Quito

January 23 Monday
We traveled 14 hours around Isabella island and back to Baltra where the airport is located.
In the dinghy at 6:00 for a walking tour of Bacas Beach to see a turtle nesting area and we certainly saw it!

Sun rise on the island.






Farewell to the Galapos. I just washed and dried my hair. Before it turns to frizz. Picture just before we depart the boat.



This is a wet landing. When we land and get our feet wet.





Path of sea turtle going to nesting area.


Hole when the sea turtle delivers the eggs. She makes a hole and puts the eggs around the sides covered up. She will lay about 60 eggs. Come back in about one month and lay more. In all she may lay about 200 eggs. Only about 5% will survive. Feral cats, birds, etc will eat them as they hatch and try to get to the ocean.


Three turtle nesting holes.


Mother turtle headed back to the ocean after delivering the eggs in the nest. A large group were watching and cheering her along. We had to leave and get on the dinghy right before she reached the water. I also ran out of space on the memory card. So as I was watching the turtle I was deleting photos.


Also at water. She could hardly move, she was so tired. See how close she was.


Iguana steps and line in the tail in the sand.



These photos do not look real.





Sally light foot crab


Candelabra cactus





Oyster catcher


Juvenile yellow crown heron



We arrived at the small airport at 8:30 and began the wait. Bad weather and all the planes are not not in Baltra. The plane left at 1:00.
We were cool. Bought some Oreos cookies for a snack.
Arrived in Quito at 4:00 but with time change it is 5:00. Get to hotel at 6:15. So an entire day of travel.

There is only one gas station for boats in ALL of the Galopos and it is here. They have to go for many miles to fill up the boats. There are gas stations for cars in the little towns.

I have a correction. There are 72 boats that tour around the islands. 6 of them are larger, 100 passenger boats. The others boats are 18 passenger. There will never be more than that, to protect the environment. You can only go a few places as a private boat. You will pay $500 per person, per day to tour the Galapos in a private boat.

Location:Quito, Ecuador