What comes to mind when you hear ‘The Galapagos Islands?’
Darwin’s sketches of finches with slightly different beaks? Nature documentaries with volcanoes spouting lava and slowly breaking down into sparkling sand? Vibrant blue and red feet of Blue Footed Boobies and Red Footed Boobies, respectively? Chris asserted several times as we boarded the boat that we were only there for the boobies and the beaches.
I knew the Islands would work their magic on him before long.
Like a dream. Like waking up to the world before we humans staged our takeover. Teeming life. Countless riches in flora and fauna in form. In the Galapagos, animals reign, and we are the interlopers. The unlikely peasants gawking at the parade of feathery and furry finery. Thou shalt not touch the animal, highnesses, but if they should deign to approach you, well, that is their privilege. (Try not to embarrass yourself by mentioning the smell.)
Nowhere else have I encountered such a culture of reverence for nature (okay, except for that time when we all waited captive for an hour at Yellowstone National Park while Mama Moose slowly moved her munching off the one path back to the parking lot). At Galapagos, this approach is embodied with an immersive educative experience. You can’t step foot anywhere without an accompanying biologist who is excited to tell you about everything. The mating rituals, footprints, contents of the fecal matter, the feeding habits, and the function of the unlikely protuberance—he will tour you through centuries of research to help you gain an understanding of what makes each creature unique.
Then there’s the geology. Want to know about the color of the sand or the texture of the lava flow? Care to check your speculation on the odd land formations against the knowledge of an expert? He’s right there! And if you ask nicely, he’ll watch your kids make castles on the beach while you take a stroll to see what’s beyond the next clump of rocks.
And the ocean! The first animals we saw from the boat were 8-foot reef sharks hunting nearby. We later swam with them, sea lions, sea turtles, jellyfish, stingrays, barracuda, hammerheads, and countless other watery creatures. No fear! Having a qualified teacher both garners respect for the animals and allows you to know through his expertise and experience how to be with them safely.
It is like walking into a nature guidebook fairy tale, where all the words on the page take shape and make funny noises right before you, and an omniscient narrator rambles pleasantly in your ear.
Getting to the fairy tale is not easy. It’s costly. Covid tests. Plane flights. But GOODNESS if it isn’t worth the effort. Education, beauty, other-worldliness, all accessible by boarding a little boat with an amiable crew that provides clean sheets, three healthy meals a day, and safe passage from the southern to the northern hemisphere and back again. I want to encourage you if you are at all wondering when and where to travel because you are ready to put the lockdown behind you, get yourself to the equator! The hard-working scientists, sea captains, mechanics, and cooks who create and protect the magic of the Galapagos Islands are eager to get their boats back in the water after a long, slow year.
And the animals? More than they’ve seen in decades due to the lack of operating tours. Now is a great time!
Please feel free to reach out to us if you want detailed information about our tour company.