![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMLoLYMSgUAeU66KBZoe2_SjYgdzfUTiNnRAXjn1adkavda0S0QiYM-V_HnpHmXLV0YwQ4QCn8sTPYjUWTGbNDTmdHaeGjovpNaj5ELU9Gi21CrWAA_A881HCByVjcFMEh5gDOmwoxr2b/s640/1+Galapagos+Blue-footed+Booby+Couple+.JPG) |
A couple of the famed Galápagos blue-footed boobies; like most creatures here, they are naively unafraid of humans. |
Decades ago I visited the Galápagos Islands on a little budget catamaran with a dozen people. But this year I decided to return when I got a good price on a nice Silversea cruise (with 90 other guests this time).
This time: Far better ship and better food, but once again had outstanding snorkeling, good fellow passengers, pleasant weather, and fascinating, fearless animals.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoYyKz579Kui5vACz6rCB3KJUT0LxqTpDo27zFBu7b-OHyZ6B5hi_b6jBXvgtqKoELNs5eJFCu4EVCT9tiPeuWfQqjd85SwBPelP24OiotD-2He80yQY2lm-W6RnM1XClUAv_w9yO16Lw/s640/2+Galapagos+Beach+JPG.JPG) |
With Canadians Annelie and Ettiene at my favorite beach:
Bahia Gardner Beach on the island of Española. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrNe11Nw8PXU-b1hlIpBpZl2Y6N8ZzRBOYJT5gXKXtRkAlCK5BxOPj1LstYIRox-A2LKOpi97ioeAtoagMq3J9b0Q5Eyrqn8GvsZ_o05smzvu4GLRdoS2u2_6eVRqT024J8Nz_YIv5XE_/s1600/4+Galapagos+Blue-footed+Booby+Couple+Red-footed+booby+and+Swallow-tail+gull+.JPG) |
Blue-footed Boobies; red-footed boobie; and swallow-tail gull with chick |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZYj2oe8yo4Y9yrgUoc-o4N_7ztnCv0dJfNhIH3SrCfudgOzMWo0t-Hms4PgVmQzGjO6AjiK3lNMsyHROanNKy93xH2sIM4uupHZRPhl1q70tXLSjB41HJXF2TFD2Q5pDmYC_WeAtMM8e/s1600/5+Galapagos+Magnificent+Frigate+%2528Fregata+magnificens%2529.JPG) |
Male Galápagos Magnificent Frigates puff up their chest to attract a mate. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoqF1QY_Tv1Ziizl-_Ib2z11DHeZzPw3wS3y-PL5IxvvP0MTJE1bo0Cl35Zl5DeSQ4l-EcQuomLiNsuliF2m5thZc6Hw911-TgFG6IvPPMlfxn_Vfb78N-2dwaD9p5tNOZzvYFXxCda6h/s640/6+Galapagos+Hawks.jpg) |
A Galápagos hawk and an unafraid baby sea lion exchange glances. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipC5b433IztmDvT0_OsvenOROxI-aQtK7hFV0H0xOFTvHI3upq6gVLtuXYdkvT38WHzYpaCAtwJVx59kqEE1g7zN1WHbtqSgR7AF9q9r-zfhLzCwPde2JxKCLmVpXlAy-8IFCjJ_7vqbRK/s640/7+Galapagos+Mating.JPG) |
It was not exactly mating season but that did not stop a few couples. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBx-RhymtetiJOmmujYKu4YUvrUTXNksTNx5RuHhOLl_3K1WzgQZ5BfGsEIs9UDZnQUCGP_Py7ufZAO6TzR3lJpPw8W3lDwH4q-lbErig1osNUYO3xi4COgyjLnqlYYjScCbfvAZmUMSCz/s640/8+Galapagos+Giant+Turtles.jpg) |
The giant tortoises were a prehistoric sight to behold, especially when "racing" to lunch. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEsR0L6WQr3R-ovAvHRfnz8lb3HrziT2qIshgq5oj_JmIodXHW0jv4atH7ArOg8oX9w4Y9IAJNN9L3Az9Gj7dH-mza-k8Hca_ERxSAIKLBi-Gn3ys8W8Ha1YHoNpxP2XyWIaqlTOH9dnY/s640/10+Galapagos+Iguana+Collage.jpg) |
Speaking of prehistoric, iguana look like mini-dinosaurs too.
Top left shows a tourist's feet to help you gauge the reptile's size.
Golden land iguana looked less demonic than the black
(sometimes reddish and green) marine iguana. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMufkVjQiTMpMvu4gojGqfvU5e3sdlufZSO5kPBCBfDR4meT25hbrxyxi9689vFUnRsv-HnLwTzt1FaHi4Phfa592Fu9kvD2ycpxcbImjo1oEyzcprelfYQgteAzcEV3E44Uf4UvYZ0Wok/s640/11+Galapagos+Sally+Lightfoot+Crabs.JPG) |
Loved the bright red Sally Lightfoot crabs
(seriously, that is their official name). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2Zvfpg5XPs2SmGNVAE8wZYG3qcxEQVCSlR1nFxzztrEd5lO3LP6J3zS7dBfJ3X_UaY4mzlL-4w-crUHqrT13_YkCybEWbHhBSnUa2J-gYy6sVqeL_c942ajQdAE6oUPqjlAj9Vy3DiaK/s640/12+Galapagos+Underwater.jpg) |
Snorkeling with sea lions is a blast but can be unnerving when one suddenly races past you just inches away. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXiTrPIJL0IuIhTbJMhyLnsrCL4NPDlZ2teSqnXeosRfMrTZr9E3KFawej58TYtyzU4O67ILtKnPgDVkyW1oj-SqLJEG6kVuY8xN8QZ4KnflA-2LgM6hJU8E1NuST9vDzt81YmmjK7avK/s640/12+Silversea+Zodiac+Landing+in+Galapagos.JPG) |
Our Zodiac transport from ship to shore. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxU8vXZKqvk2rHhJQ6qUyUfOZVWesG-yB3sl-M4HMg9iFQoBd18_BtPtH_FLOWJCDpbvgtH6Mtp_y2RpQQwI8oquKAoRSLagqdoVHKpfkZJen5bojZBmnnn8NX5KNbchVdPBPmaZaieuz/s1600/14+Silversea+Galapagos+Guides+and+Guests.jpg) |
Exceptional Ecuadorian naturalists were outstanding guides;
with Christian (top); and with great fellow travelers Joe and Louisa (bottom) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGnim3iKCAYJ-UbKmPb0giFmLhI4EiJfiSdBV7u2VqMXV9M5IJnC8SUzWmtWN957IIKcnG39BrLtA1aXlTNDE1mvLQClmfds04BQPSy51VGZbqxDYfJE3-r0H6l1EjUxPWbRjNNW5Yh5M/s1600/15+Quito+.jpg) |
Spent a few days in Quito before flying on to the islands. Quito's colonial old town is enormous with outstanding restaurants, dramatic streets, and of course grand Catholic churches. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGxjaN-s7LhhQHmGWIm5L_Y_QH1uGkRdaWhsQc5rghFeQMUysjagBuJYNOhSjwJCKhRSXKspI7Bw48P5vl7bX8Lc30fzDcM8c4Egxisn8lf6NLlKSWx5rocX8IE9b98c_GRSrJsLxzr9M/s640/17+Galapagos+Sunset.jpg) |
Thoroughly enjoyed the return to these islands. |
Wonderful week cruising around the Galápagos once again and enjoyed the extra days exploring Quito. It did seem as if the endemic animals were slightly less plentiful than I recalled from my previous visit but we still got to see most of the famous creatures.
Although Ecuador has made a serious effort to be a good steward of its treasure, the population in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal has soared. And, not surprisingly, the islands also had quite a few more tourists than I encountered in the 1980s. But then, as Sir David Attenborough once said, "Without tourism, the Galápagos would not exist."