As part of my Christmas vacation to Peru and Ecuador I was fortunate to finally visit the Galápagos Islands on a 4 night cruise.

The boat was just the 11 of us on our tour along with our OAT trip leader and a local naturalist.

Each day had a morning and afternoon visit to one of the islands as well as opportunities to snorkel in between. Our tour covered Santa Cruz, Isabella, Santiago, Rabida and North Seymour Islands.

Each island had very different landscapes, flora and fauna. Some areas looked like the rain forest. Others reminded me of Arizona…if it was situated on the Pacific Ocean. We arrived just before the start of the rainy season. Because of this many trees were barren and look dead. Just surreal. In a few months they will all be green again.

It was great to be able to wear shorts for a few days in the middle of winter.

Giant Tortoise, Santa Cruz Island

The crew on our yacht

Our group posing behind mating giant tortoises. 😳😂

Marine Iguana

Christmas Eve

Galapagos Penguin

Galapagos Penguin

Lobster fisherman

This is my bench

Galapagos Flycatcher

Eerie landscapes

Galapagos Flycatcher

Yellow Crown Night Heron

Sally Lightfoot Crab

American Oyster Catchers with their egg

Galapagos Land Iguana

Galapagos Dove

Hanging out

Santiago Island

Santiago Island

Santiago Island

Santiago Island

Santiago Island

Santiago Island

Our Yacht – Carina

Blue Footed Boobie

Santiago Island

Santiago Island

Santiago Island

Santiago Island

Frigate

Santiago Island

Rabida Island

Rabida Island

Rabida Island

Rabida Island

Rabida Island

Rabida Island

Galapagos Mockingbird

Rabida Island

Ghost Crab

Rabida Island

North Seymour Island

Land Iguana, North Seymour Island

Immature Frigate

Land Iguana, North Seymour Island

Blue Footed Boobie and her egg

Male Frigate showing his stuff to find a mate

Blue Footed Boobie and baby

Immature Frigate

Blue Footed Boobie

North Seymour Island

Male Boobie in a mating dance with a female

Blue Footed Boobie

North Seymour Island

Adorable baby sea-lion

Galapagos Hawk

Sunset on our final night

Sunset on our final night