In the morning I went back to Tortuga Bay. It is a lovely 3.5 km walk to get to the sheltered bay. I had a group tour in the afternoon so this was a perfect start to the day.
Brunch was at a restaurant I had been wanting to go to. They also had brujo, known as scorpion fish which I had to try. It was delicious and I saved half for breakfast the next day. I will be leaving on the 7 am ferry to go to Isabela.
El Chato Tortoise Reserve
Most of the island is a protected reserve. In some areas there are farms but a lot of the land is used by tortoises to roam freely. They spend their time grazing and when it is time to lay eggs, they head to the lowlands and the sand.
On a farm near the reserveThis is a male Tortuga.This little duck had been swimming around and wanted to just sleep. He was annoyed but did after I took his picture.Water is used for temperature regulation.
Twin Craters (Los Gemelos)
The Gemelos (the twins) Craters are in the center in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. They are a pair of large sinkholes formed by collapsed magma chambers. The vegetation in the area are Scalesia forest that contain plant species found only in the galapagos. It is a reminder that these islands were formed from past volcanic activity.
Galapagos dove with the characteristic blue eyes compared to other dove species.Mocking bird which originally intrigued Darwin on his visit to a different island.
Lava tubes
The lava tunnels are underground tubes formed by flowing lava during volcanic eruptions. They form when the surface of a lava flow cools and hardens but the molten lava beneath still flows away. The result is a hollow tunnel. This tunnel goes for kilometers but sections have collapsed. This section is still accessible.
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago. It is around 1.5 million years old. It is one of the younger islands in the Galapagos.
The island was named Santa Cruz, meaning “Holy Cross”. It was also called Indefatigable by the British after HMS Indefatigable. The Galapagos Islands were used by whalers and buccaneers as a base for their operations. There are many islands in the archipelago. Darwin did not visit Santa Cruz.
The Charles Darwin Research Station was Founded in 1959, after petitions internationally we’re Made to preserve the islands. Many changes had occurred and due to human activity and invasive species, native species were endangered. Now 97% of the entire Galapagos is for preservation and research. People live on only 3%. Tours can access several areas on a limited basis. Conservation remains a priority to protect its unique flora and fauna.
Sea lion living it’s best life on the San Cristobal pier
Getting from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz was easy with an approximate 2 hour ferry.
Tortuga Bay
This was an easy 35 minute walk from the center of town through the park. Many lizards and birds hop on and off the path.
The bay is used for surfers and it’s too rough for swimming, but if you walk to the other end of the beach, the path curves towards a sheltered bay.
The marine iguanas can be seen here. They only go in the water when they want to feed on the algae on the rocks. Their noses are blunt for this purpose and their claws and limbs are adapted for this purpose. This is the only marine iguana in the world. When they sneeze on land, they are sneezing out the excess salt from their dive!
Here you can snorkel, swim, or rent a kayak. Lots of wildlife can be seen from the kayak.
Yellow warbler
The Darwin research station
Outside the research station is a little building where you can purchase a tour with a naturalist. It gives you more access to the station. While you wait there is an artist area across the street that leads to the Bay.
At the station I saw the turtle breeding program area. They breed and monitor the eggs then when they hatch, they keep them for 5 years before releasing into the wild. They mimic the requirements needed for that time. By controlling egg incubation temperatures, they can ensure enough males and females.
These tortugas are 100 years old.
At the information center we saw lonesome George, the last of his specific breed of tortoise. Many of the rest of his species had been smuggled out of the Galapagos and despite reward offerings to give one up for a mating partner, no one responded. When he died, they had him taxidermied.
After walking around a little longer, I went to the Bay at the research station.
A friend from school had just arrived at the island. We walked around at the gift shops and looked for sharks at the pier.
I love how they put orange cones around for people to maintain distance. This is a little sea lion pup.
I booked a tour to go look for the red footed boobies which can only be seen on two islands in the Galapagos. San Cristobal is one of them. It was an amazing day.
Dolphins
As we made our way to kicker rock, we spotted a pod of dolphins which swam and frolicked with our boat.
Kicker rock or sleepy lion (Leo dormido)
This is actually a formation that is part of San Cristobal and not a separate island.Can you see the lion face here?Nazca boobySea lion pup resting out of the water. Because of his light color, he has been out of the water for 5 hours.Nasco boobie to the left and Blue footed boobie is on the right.Blue footed boobie.Another sea lion pup
And another sea lion pup.Frigate bird. They try to steal food from the boobies. The boobies are expert divers and the frigates are not. They will also try to get little sea iguanas.
Snorkeling
For the record, I did not snorkel. I had cataract surgery a few weeks ago and being in water is not allowed for 3 months. Though I did still brinh my own snorkel and mask, it is not worth the risk. I did bring my 360 camera which the naturalist took for me. For this time of year, the water was actually pretty clear and many of the must-see animals put on a show.
Punta Pitt
This is a part of San Cristobal island that you cannot get to any other way except by boat. Here you can find the red footed booby. It was a nice 2 km hike and beautiful as only so many tours can be here at a time.
Here are some interesting facts about the Nazca, Red-footed, and Blue-footed boobies:
Nazca Booby
These birds have a white body with black-tipped wings and tail with a distinctive black mask around their eyes. They feed on fish and squid caught by diving from significant heights. They have serious sibling rivalry, where usually only one chick survives. They nest on the ground in large colonies and have a courtship dance that includes bill clapping.
Red-footed Booby
They have two variations: White or brown body with brown being more common. They have bright red feet and a blue beak and face. They also feed on fish and squid in the same manner and fly fast. They nest in trees, unlike other boobies that nest on the ground. They only lay one egg. They have a courtship ritual of head shaking and giving sticks.
This juvenile red footed booby landed on our boat before we were at the beach.
Blue-footed Booby
They have bright blue feet that are part of their mating ritual. The brighter the blue shoes they are healthy and they attract more mates. They have a high stepping dance that shows off their feet. They have a brownish body and a pale blue beak. They catch sardines and anchovies by plunge-diving. They nest on the ground, and lay two or three eggs. They spread guano in a circle so the egg and the baby chicks blend in.
The ring of guano around the nestIf you look carefully there is an egg just underneath and just in front of the wing.
Frigates
They nest in trees and are always near the boobies or circling over head to prey on the fledgling boobies.
We also saw a great blue heron.
The views of and around the island were gorgeous.
A lizard. He stopped to pose for me.
And of course the sea lions. They are so fun to watch. Expressive, curious, and playful.
San Cristobal is one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos Archipelago. All the islands in the Galapagos were formed by volcanic activity. It is one of the easternmost islands and the closest to Ecuador mainland. It is estimated to be between 2.4 to 4 million years old.
The Galapagos Islands were discovered in 1535 by the Bishop of Panama, Fray Tomás de Berlanga. San Cristobal was named after St. Christopher, the patron saint of seafarers.
It was the first of the islands to be inhabited and served as a penal colony by the Ecuadorian government in the 1900s. Charles Darwin visited in 1835.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, San Cristobal had sugar and coffee plantations as well as fishing. Now it is the capital of the Galapagos Province.
As a tourist destination, there are strict conservation regulations to preserve its ecosystems and wildlife. When you arrive at the airport in Quito (or Guayaquil), a special visa and scanning of luggage is needed as well.
La Lobería
The name for the beach means “Place of the sea wolfs”. Lobería is shortened from lobos mariños which is what the sea lions are called in Spanish. The beach is 3 km from the town and is a nice walk there and back .
Along the shore of the port is the malecón. The walkway is beautiful with restaurants and shops.
A protest was happening as I was looking for a spot for dinner. Here in Ecuador, the protests are led by a police car as it is their right to protest peacefully.
And of course, there are more sea lions. Dinner if the sea lions have moved to other parts of the island including the port.
The young are still nursing.
The fish I ate was amazing and freshly caught. It was delicious. Tomorrow is bird watching…
The active volcano Tungurahua is near Baños and the city is situated between the Andes and the Amazon. The last major eruption was in 2006 and the healing power of the many waters here balances the destructive power from eruptiond.
There are images of goblins, gnomes, and elves throughout the city. They are mythical creatures and are considered the first protectors of the Earth.
Banos de Agua Santa is named because of the natural mineral thermal springs in the area. As in other areas, they are believed to be possess healing properties and I for one enjoy soaking in warm baths.
Today is a day for enjoying nature, relaxing, and a little pampering.
Casa de árbol
The casa de árbol is a great mirador (lookout) to view the volcano Tungurahua as well as the city. This morning was very foggy as there was much rain the night before. Giant swings, a small Zipline, and beautiful gardens are a rain to spend time here.
Pasarela diamante
This skywalk is the first glass skywalk in Latin America. It is over 1000 meters above the city of Baños.
Climbing up above the observation deck gives another interesting view.
Mano de Pachamama
The hands of Pachamama is another impressive viewpoint in Baños. This artistic work of art resembles hands emerging from nature and the heart in the middle of it all. Pachamama means mother earth and is the giver and protector of nature.
Two glass observation decks, each with a hand extending from the earth, are joined in the middle by a connection, the heartCuy (guinea pig)
Afterwards, we ate at cafe de cielo (café in the sky). I ordered cevichochos which is a ceviche with chocho (lupine beans). It is the best tasting ceviche broth I have had here in Ecuador. Also, chochos are now my favorite bean to eat. Double the protein of most other beans and as much calcium as a glass of milk. I also had cheese empanadas.
We had about an hour and a half to walk around before our 6 hour spa appointment at Luna Volcan.
Iglesia Central in the middle of Baños.In the markets they are roasting Cuy, which is guinea pig. They are not pets here and are much larger.Street performers were everywhere. This was acting as an object of art and invited contributions to the art.At another park in the city.
This little dog, Princess, was in the apartment downstairs and would greet me through the fence. Not very friendly, but cute.
Luna Volcan is a spa high on the mountain overlooking Baños. There are package deals and the driver we hired was able to negotiate other packages.
A couples retreat for alone time.The restaurant next to the spa.
For $122 each, we had a three hour pass to the pools and spa waters. Even though it was raining, it was great. Afterwards, we had a one hour relaxing massage followed by full body exfoliation with a chocolate scrub. The price also included dinner, with a choice of entree and either an appetizer or dessert.
Prawns in a avocado sauceTilapia, Mediterranean style
A great way to spend the last night in Baños. The views are amazing here too. It is on the same property as cafe de cielo.
This weekend of the celebration of the battle of Pichincha that happened on May 24, 1822. It is the Latin American War of Independence. This battle, led by Antonio José de Sucre, allowed the South American rebels to defeat the Spanish royalists. They were able to take control of Quito the following day. The battle occurred on one of the slopes of the Pichincha volcano.
For the 3 day weekend, Susan and I drove to Baños which is about 3 hours south of Quito. On the way is a city called Ambato. We stopped to stretch our legs and look at the city from a high point. We visited the Parque Provincial de la Familia. It is a beautiful park with community sports areas, a farm, lagoons, and spaces to relax.
View of Ambato
From there we headed to the Airbnb and found that the owner knew a guide for the waterfalls. We were also able to practice our Spanish. Ed
Agotan Waterfall
This waterfall (cascadas) is formed from the Pastaza river.
Rio Blanca Mega Adventure Park
Of course there are commercial enterprises including zip lining even in the superman position. They also have a glass suspension bridge to walk to the other side over the Pastaza river below. Since I have done this in China, I wanted to do it again here. They have a few glass panels that stimulate cracking of the glass with the actual sound effects. Much different from China where the sound came from above.
Cascada Manto de la Novia
The mantle of the bride waterfall is named for the whiteness of the water which resembles a wedding veil and dress. It flows into the Pastaza river. At this waterfall we took the Tarabita ride over the river and by the falls.
Cascada el Pailón del Diablo
This waterfall is named for the stair of the rocks under the waterfall. If you look closely, the rocks look like the devil’s face. There are two sides to see. One side has a small amount of hiking with a rickety wood bridge.
The other side of the devil’s waterfall is much more scenic and a longer walk. Getting to the waterfall is a long slope downwards with some steps as well and then a climb along the side of the waterfall. You can also duck into the caves and emerge right beside the waterfall.
Much of this longer walk is through the first which is a beautiful walk. This squirrel seemed unperturbed.There are two sections of caves to get through. This is the entrance to the second cave. My knees did not like having to squat down so far to get through but the views were obviously worth it in the end.
Dinner at Mozafiato was very good. Pricey but a really nice meal with a corner on the third floor overlooking the nightlife below.
I love watching the dogs that have free roam of the rooftops. This one was watching dogs on the street.View of the mountain from the restaurant.El Gusanita train here in Baños
I am grateful for celebrations that bring people together.
Salsa night with Melanie, center, and Natalia from Brazil.Who could not celebrate the first time ever Reese’s is sold in Ecuador?
A group of us also gets together regularly at Susan’s house fire figure and wine.
Teacher prom is put on by my school. What fun. Dinner, drinks, she’s so much dancing. We danced for over three hours. It was exciting being at a dance where almost everyone dances and no one stops.
Not a celebration, but a friend and I going tutoring in Tumbaco.
And of course, the best celebrations are fire others and events in their life. Monica had her bridal shower and it was so much fun. Lots of games and merriment on a Friday night.
Just for fun, on many street corners people will offer entertainment for tips.
For mother’s day, I ride my bike on the ciclo paseo. As I was ready to enter the Centro histórico, I heard the sound of Elvis music. An Ecuadorian Elvis street musician (in the past I have seen the Asian Elvis in Hong Kong).
It was a beautiful day.
Later I went with my friend Monica to the Botanical garden and the Vivarium (snakes and frogs). Through WhatsApp, I talked for a little bit with Becca and Ryan and Ryan
The botanical garden was peaceful.
Cactus garden.
And the orchid garden.
The vegetable garden
We visited the carnivorous plants section where they have many varieties of pitcher plants and Venus fly traps.
No pictures can be taken at the vivarium which is a pity as they had so many different frogs, boas, pit vipers, and especially an axolotl. Afterwards we walked to the Gusanita which is a kiddie train that circles the park on the roads. It was pretty fun and especially to have a friend to spend the day with.
We headed to the Douro valley. The first stop was in a town called Amarante.
Amarante is a charming town in northern Portugal, known for its rich history, picturesque setting, and cultural heritage. It is on the banks of the Tâmega River and very picturesque. One of most iconic landmarks is the São Gonçalo Church, dedicated to the town’s patron saint, which overlooks the river and features a stunning baroque facade.
Outside the churchThe bridge over the river.
The town is also known for its pastries.
Afterwards we went wine tasting at Aveleda, the local winery. Such long family history and beautiful gardens. The wines were fantastic.
We then headed to the Douro valley where we would be staying and also bought some food for the evening.
The Meeting of the Waters in Manaus is a natural phenomenon where the dark colored waters of the Rio Negro (looks like tea or coca cola without suspended particles) meets the lighter, sandy-colored waters of the Solimões River (which flows to the Amazon), flowing side by side without immediately mixing for several kilometers, creating a stunning visual contrast. This occurs due to differences in temperature, speed, and density between the two rivers.
Even though we could see it, it helped when a big boat cut through across it. The waters moved in relation to each other but still didn’t mix.
Up close where the boat passed through. Even though the water moved in relation to each other, it still didn’t mix.
A video of the two different waters that don’t mix together.
