Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) - day 2

All the concerns over the cost and the hassles getting there suddenly disappeared when I set foot on Isla Española, after sailing there through the night. Strewn over the rocks and sand, seeming waiting for us but actually totally ignoring our group, was a mountain of sea lions, huge colourful iguanas, giant pelicans and bright red crabs. I have seen all these individually before. But never in such volume, never so friendly and never all together. The landscape is also incredible. Rugged rocks, giant cacti, turquoise blue sea, crashing waves, towering cliffs and bright green shrubs. Many wildlife sites promise much and deliver little. The Galapagos Islands over delivers if anything.

On three seperate visits to the islands different corners, I snorkelled with sting rays, swam with sea lions and spent time studying the nest building habits of the famous 'blue footed boobie'. In one spot, there was a line of four nests which featured, in order, each stage of the hatching process... like a museum display in real life. Ample time was also available on my luxury boat, complete with private cabin. The only drawback being the mean age of my fellow passengers (probably over 60) which meant that dinner at 7pm was the last event of the night. Still, after carnaval, a few nights off the booze did no harm.