Galapagos

Sea lions on back of disused boat
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The most amazing place either of us has ever visited!!!

My Cards been cloned in Salvador, & now completely broke, but Dave has treated me to 8 days in the Galapagos Islands!

We were booking the cruise last minute from Quito, so options were poor, but we managed to find a 4 day tour on a first class boat that turned out to be amazing.

Flying into the Island of San Cristobal we were told that our boat was having difficulties & we wouldn't´t be able to get on board until that evening!  Although disappointed we got on with it & gave us a great opportunity to meet the 13 other passengers over a free bar that evening!  The people were amazing, & really made the whole trip so enjoyable!  Dave also made friends with the crew by joining their boats 5 a side football team!

Sea lion with crabs
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All the animals are completely free & uninhibited with people, which made getting close to them so easy!  Over the 4 days we swam with sea lions, who were the friendliest & inquisitive of them all, snorkeled with rays, fish, & sharks, saw sea turtles mating & coming up to the beach to lay eggs, giant tortoises, blue footed boobies (birds!) sitting on their eggs, iguanas, penguins & so much more!

After the tour finished we spent 3 days on our own, going over to isabela island for 2 nights, & a day in Santa Cruz, which was great seeing more sharks from land this time, kayaking, & exploring the beautiful deserted beaches.

crabs on rocks
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This has definitely been the highlight of the trip so far, with an amazing boat & fantastic people adding to the most beautiful islands we´ve visited.