Day 3: Galápagos We began our first day in Ecuador by packing up our suitcases and having a buffet breakfast at the Exe Hotel. After eating, we jumped on a bus and were on our way to the Guayaquil airport for our journey to the Galápagos Islands! The 3 hour flight (there was an hour time difference!) concluded and we finally arrived in the islands! From the airport we took a bus that brought us to a small water ferry that brought us to Santa Cruz Island.
Finally arriving to the Galápagos Islands
To begin our adventures in Ecuador we took a bus ride to visit the Los Gemelos, two sink holes created by underground gas bubbles disappearing causing the ground to sink. We continued on to the El Chato Ranch. At the ranch we were provided with a delicious lunch surrounded by birds and giant tortoises. We then walked the grounds where we walked through the dark lava tunnel. The tunnel was pitch black, there was zero life found and all you heard were dripping of raindrops in the tunnel. Our tour guide, Johnathan, informed us of the light lava tunnel that was near by. Apparently, this lava tunnel is full of light and life but we were unfortunately out of time to explore it. After exploring the dark lava tunnel, we strolled through the ranch grounds where we were greeted by several giant tortoises!
Me and a giant Galápagos tortoise
Our exploration concluded and we continued our bus ride tour to our next hotel, Hotel Ninfa. After checking in and settling down our belongings, we took another small ferry for a short ride to the other side of the island. After departing the ferry, we began a 20 minute hike to visit the Las Salinas (salt marshes) and Las Grietas (a small grotto). We were planning on swimming in the grotto but unfortunately we arrived too late and the ranger would not allow us to swim. It was still a very beautiful site to see! Although we were not permitted to swim in the grotto, we stopped at the beach on our hike back and went swimming. The water felt amazing and it was so clear we could see the bottom!
The beach
Once it was time to leave, we headed back on the same small ferry. After returning to the hotel, everyone quickly began to get ready for dinner. To get to the restaurant, we first had to walk through the small town of Santa Cruz. Our meals again were delicious and the passion fruit iced tea was very yummy (we couldn’t stop drinking it). Once dinner was finished, we headed back to the hotel where we prepared for a presentation on the Charles Darwin Research Center by Isabel Timpe, one of the workers at the center. She discussed with us their current work taking place and their strong focus on monitoring and combating the impacts on ocean acidification increases. The oceans pH level becomes reduced when the Co2 reacts with the water and calcium carbonate becomes trapped. This process eventually begins to increase the acidity of the water. In order for the research center to study and hopefully stop these changes, they’ve created a “natural laboratory” that mimics the ocean. They collect samples from the ocean to test the alkalinity, pH and carbon. To further study what they can not bring back to the lab (like the entire ocean floor), they monitor the floor with underwater cameras. After the presentation, the group departed and got ready for bed.