"Ferry" to Isla San Cristobal

Early morning departure. The ferry companies require you to be at the pier 30 minutes before departure so we were there 6:30 AM, had our bags inspected and then waited until 7:15 before going on a small shuttle boat that took us 15 metres across the harbour to our "ferry" - for 50 Cent. Everything in Galapagos is money - cash only. It's still a mystery why the ferry didn't dock at the pier saving us the extra boat trip but we all have to live - right.

Our "ferry" was not a ferry. Instead it was a 600 HP powered ocean going speed boat where we shared the seats with some 20 other passengers. It turned out to be a two hour crossing with high waves and the boat bouncing up and down. Everybody held on as best as they could and hoped we would make it to the other side. Nothing to see on the trip except waves and more waves.

Sunday morning was also very quiet in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. We found a place that served breakfast and had the worst breakfast - perhaps on the entire trip so far. Then we found a dive shop, rented snorkelling equipment and got directions for the nearest beach. Just 15 minutes walking from town, behind the visitor centre. The beach - Playa Punta Carola - was nice, almost deserted and we saw turtles swimming close to the beach when we got there.

Spent all morning and a bit of the afternoon relaxing on the beach or in the water. Lots of fish, a few turtles and perfect conditions for snorkelling. We walked back to town around 2 PM to be at the boat 30 minutes before departure. The town was still quiet, and we waited for more than 45 minutes before the captain decided to take us all on board, the usual disorganised chaos about who can board and in which order. The trip back to Puerto Ayora was as least as bumpy as on the way out, but we made it back, waited for the taxi boat to take us to the pier and terra firma.

Head to food street for one last fish dinner but still super good food. Not sure whether to go for bumpy ride to Floreana tomorrow Malene decided to book another trip to Isla Santa Fe for some more snorkelling. It's a shorter boat ride and a better place for snorkelling. But still comes with a USD 90 price tag for a 6 hour day trip.

With a 60 USD price tag for a return ticket with the "ferry" it is definitely one of the cheaper options for DIY-day trips in the Galapagos. And you can easily get to a beach for swimming and snorkelling even though it might not be totally untouched as some of the other places where the cruises go to.

Waiting for the ferry in the morning

Sea lions at the port

Playa Punta Carola

Sea lion playing around in the waves

My beach

Heading back to Puerto Ayora

BBQ'd fish for dinner

The red cabbage - the closest we'll get to Danish Christmas food this time

Tortuga Bay beach and some more cruise deal hunting

We met with the Swiss guys in front of the supermarket at 9 and walked to the entrance of the national park. From there it is a 45 minute walk to the beach - Tortuga bay beach. One of the few free things you can do on Galapagos where everything else is Dollars.

The walk is on a paved trail through a desert like area with bushes and cactus trees. Some of them impressively high. And there it was - the beach! The first stretch was for surfing so we walked along the beach for 15 minutes to get to Tortuga bay. Wonderful with sand between the toes. Lots of marine iguanas on the beach and at the end a whole family of them were soaking in the sun.

We arrived at Tortuga bay and the first thing we spotted in the water was a small shark patrolling the area just at the edge of the water from the shore. Further in the bay we could see turtles poking their head up the water occasionally. We had a quick swim and then rested on the beach. After a while the temptation to rent a kayak was too big and we spent the next 1½ going round the bay looking for turtles and fish in the water. Lots to look at even though the water was a bit murky.

In the afternoon we headed back to Puerto Ayora. We still had to find a cruise and book it, so we spent some more time at the booking agencies still listening to all their sales talk about boats we didn't like, itineraries that didn't fit with our departure date, ridiculous suggestions about USD 2000 cruises beyond our budget and so on. In the end we settled for a cruise with the Encantada
It had all we wanted - small size, the right trip length and arrival in time for our flight back to Quito and most importantly - a trip that went around Isabela Island where we wanted to go.

After leaving a pile of money with a guy we've only spent a short time talking to we left the office with a handwritten note of paper stating our trip, departure time and an amount. And then we needed some lunch. USD 5 including enough rice.
We walked a bit around town before heading for a drink, and some more drinks at the bar where we met the Swiss yesterday. Eventually they returned and we had more drnks - happy hour should be utilised, right.

We all headed for dinner at food street - they going for the lobster, we going for a big red snapper, wonderfully BBQ'd. The place was busy today, lots of cruises ending so a lot of people in town. Before going to bed we managed to book "ferry" tickets to San Christobal for tomorrow and for Fernandino Island the following day. Cruise countdown has officially started - or at least we a clinging on to our handwritten receipt :-)

Impressive cactus tree

Finally at the beach

Iguana

Tortuga bay view

Cruise receipt

Biggest lobster on the island

So true

Happy hour - cruise ahead

Dinner in food street

Nicest waiter on Galapagos