Creatures stand out on Galapagos Islands
Birds, iguanas and sea lions don’t mind human presence in this stunning location
It’s hard not to talk about the Galapagos Islands without using clichés.
Terms such as mind-blowing, one-of-akind, must-see and awe-inspiring are so common in the world of travel that they have lost a lot of their power, but this place really does warrant the dramatic vocabulary.
The islands are unique, stunning and a worthy addition to any travel bucket list.
I’m visiting in September as a part of a documentary project on Ecuador called the Feel Again project. It’s my second time here and I’m worried that will reduce the wonder of it all. But as soon as I arrive, I realize every visit here will be special.
We get off our yacht and take a zodiac to Suarez Point on Espanola Island. The small boat has to hover near the landing pier for a minute as our guide claps at a lazy sea lion blocking the only path. Annoyed, it waddles away through an assortment of marine iguanas.
There are dozens more sea lions on the beach, barking, chasing the lapping tides and doing what sea lions do best — nap.
Espanola Island doesn’t have any major predators so most of the animals are unfazed by our presence. I could probably walk up to a blue-footed booby, pet it and get only a confused look.
Wandering around the archipelago’s islands reminds me this place is nothing like anywhere else on the planet. It’s more Jurassic Park than planet Earth.
Land iguanas sporting bright yellow skins lurk in the grasses. A pair of slickcoated albatrosses sword fight with their beaks as they practise their mating rituals. Paradise birds dance through the wind drifts searching for fish to dive bomb. Sea lions can be found just about anywhere, barking or napping.
But it’s not only the animals that make the Galapagos Islands so special. The volcanically created landscapes are otherworldly, as well.
From along the cliffs of the Plaza Islands (home to bright red shrubs and tall cowboy-figure cacti), to high on Santa Cruz Island where giant tortoises roam through rainforests, to here on Espanola Island which features Caribbean-like seas and sandy beaches, the islands are diverse.
Each island can have numerous microclimates, with one side being desert and the other being lush.
I sit on the sands of Espanola as the day comes to a close. The gentle waves slip onto the white shore and slap softly into green algae-coated rocks. A family of sea lions all lay in a row looking more like undercooked hotdogs than live animals.
It’s travel perfection. It’s just nature and me.
The sky sinks into a soft shade of purple, and it’s time to head back to our boat. I zigzag along the beach so as not to disturb the sea lions who have decided to call it a night.
I’m off to another island, another destination, another country. Wherever I go, it will hard to live up to the beauty and wonder of the Galapagos Islands.