Traveling by motorcycle through Latin America: Galapagos, Part 3

Leaving Puerto Ayora at midnight, the Rumba headed to the northern islands of the archipelago. The deep rumble of the diesel lulled me to sleep. With only five on board, we each got our own cabin..mine topside on the starboard side. In the wee morning hours the anchor chain rattled down and I looked out at Bartolome Island. A raw volcanic land only 1.5 million years old. Very little vegetation on any of these north west islands and a marked lack of abundant wild life. The lack of plant life allowed viewing of the lava flow patterns. The waters are cold enough to support a small fur seal and penguin population.

Seal pup feeding

The boat circled San Salvador Island, with a stop at James Bay, the site of a failed colonization effort in the 1960´s.

We stopped at Rabina Island to see effects of the last Nino weather pattern- the destruction of a flamingo pond by too much water. This allowed the water life to grow large and then die off as they used too much oxygen. The rotting fish killed everything to the point where nothing lives there. The sun heated the red sand beach to a point where you would burn your feet through flip flops!! And one gal forgot her flops on board. She stayed in the wet sand and was ok.

We headed to our last over night stop and landing, North Seymour Island. An early morning hike around a path brought us to scores of birds- mostly blue footed boobies and frigate birds. The boobies and frigates were in several phases of courtship and chick rearing. The frigate bird males displayed their noted pouches as females flew overhead and the boobies did dances and beak rubs with potential mates. Fascinating entertainment.

Frigate Bird pouch display

After this show we headed to Baltra port and our futures with an airport and returns to all of our trips. The Galapagos Islands are worth the time and money to experience. I would go again!

Here are some more photos, a look back at the Galapagos and some of the sights.

Iguanas: