Galapagos: The real world Jurassic Park

My aha moment came when I realized the famous Galapagos islands that I remember watching Discovery expeditions on TV as a child were actually part of a country called Ecuador. Hence, as part of my digital nomad journey working remotely for a startup up in New York City, I decided to spend 3 months in Quito from January 2017 with just one mission: explore the depth the Galapagos islands.

On the way to Isla Pinzón

The Galapagos islands, famed for where Darwin came up with his ‘On the origin of Species’, was not more than a decade ago, just accessible deep sea onboard ship expeditions as with the likes of Discovery. More recently, ferry routes between islands have made it open to more commons Joes like me. I did not want to have any regrets leaving and hence decided to spend 2 full weeks with a 3 day scuba on board expedition.

I write this from memory and photos as friends ask me about how to spend their time as I look back a couple of years. The three major islands are **Santa Cruz **(where you land), Isabella and San Cristobal and the sprawl of nature between volcanic mountains, craters, rock formations rising from the water to the tortoises, string rays, iguanas, penguins, seals and sharks is beautiful.

Isla Santa Cruz

I started my trip with a long run to the Tortuga Bay.
Morning Run and Surf Galapagos | Strava

Don’t miss going to the Darwin Center for Conservation, Las Grietas and the giant tortoises at the El Chato Reserve

Don’t miss going to the Darwin Center for Conservation, Las Grietas and the giant tortoises at the El Chato Reserve

Isla Isabella

The welcome to Isabella.

Tip: take snorkeling gear where ever you go, you’ll never know what you’ll find by just going for a swim.

Tuneles + Tintoreras

Boobies with different colored feet that tell you how prime for mating they are.

Isla San Cristobal

The welcome.

“Lonely George” won the race. On the way to “Muro de Lagrimas” / Wall of Tears of the prisoners which is what island was for in the 50s.

Surfing in La Loberia

The seals come and surf along with you.

Go on a boat tour around the whole island and go on a hike around Sierra Negra.

Sierra Negra

3 day Expedition off Santa Cruz.

Gordon Rocks

The current here on two dives was strong and had to wait long inbetween.

Kicker Rock / Leon Dormido / Sleeping Lion

In the middle of nowhere in the depth of the Pacific.

I left with a dream of coming back to work as a scuba diving assistant, and moreso in awe with how amazingly beautiful planet earth is; of how curious the fauna in Galapagos specifically to humans is and how important it is for humanity to preserve the biodiversity that’s in danger today.