Guayaquil, Ecuador
Our connecting flight to the Galapagos allowed us to spend a day in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The highlight was definitely vising the Parque Seminario, which is home to lots of giant iguanas.
 |
| Hanging out in Guayaquil |
 |
| It can get pretty scary when one of these guys decides to relieve himself from above! |
 |
| Rock and roll iguana |
 |
| Alex is yummier than lettuce |
 |
| Just like feeding Katie when she was little |
 |
| This guy wanted to sneak a ride out of Ecuador |
 |
| Alex, Katie, and statue |
 |
| On the boardwalk in Ecuador |
Galapagos Islands
We spent five days visiting different areas and islands in the Galapagos, and were able to see a many stunning creatures and views.
 |
| Pelicans at sunrise |
 |
| Dragon beach |
 |
| Squadron in attack formation |
 |
| Blue footed booby |
 |
| Marine iguana army assembling |
 |
| These frigate birds soared the ridge lift created by our ship for hours |
 |
| The inspiration for Godzilla rising through the dock |
 |
| Sally Lightfoot hiding in the shade |
 |
| Lava Heron |
 |
| Blue footed booby mating dance |
 |
| Cool forked tail on this male frigate bird |
 |
| Galapagos finches, like this one, inspired Darwin's work on evolution of species |
 |
| Our home on the Galapagos Islands |
 |
| Great blue heron |
 |
| Typical view of mangroves, lava, and tide pools on the Galapagos |
 |
| It looks like he was posing, but he was actually being obstinate and blocking our exit from our Zodiac |
 |
| These Galapagos cactus can have a tree trunk up to 20 feet high |
 |
| The dragon of the Galapagos - the land iguana |
 |
| It was as big as it looks! |
 |
| Levitating mangrove forests |
 |
| If you look closely, you can see three white-tipped reef sharks |
Giant Tortoise Breeding Centers on the Galapagos Islands
The breeding centers have been an enormous success in bringing many Galapagos tortoise species and sub-species back from the edge of extinction. There are now 35,000 tortoises on the Galapagos.
 |
| Feeding time frenzy |
 |
| He made it back over, but larger tortoises can't turn back over on their own. |
 |
| American giant tortoises |
End of the trip
Three flights and we're home!
 |
| Last sunrise over the Galapagos Islands |
