1/4/2020
Today we woke up early and took a 2-hour boat ride from Puerto Ayora to Puerto Villamil on Isabela by a private speedboat charter. Upon arriving at the port, we were greeted by sea lions and iguanas and the beauty of the ocean hardly went unnoticed. It was clear that wildlife was teeming on and around the islands. We checked into our hotel and then proceeded to get our snorkeling supplies before heading down to the port. We started off on kayaks and from the kayaks we began snorkeling. While on the kayaks, we spotted some marine iguanas and a variety of birds. When we left the kayaks to snorkel, we saw a reef shark and a ray, as well as several schools of fish. On the way back on the kayaks we finally spotted the highly desired Galapagos penguins and green sea turtles. I have never seen so many unique species in such a short amount of time and it has been one of my favorite experiences so far on the trip. If it hadn’t been evident before, the sheer number of species that can be found in any area on the islands is truly incredible and highlights what a unique ecosystem we have the privilege of observing. |