Today we are heading off to Isla Isabela – it is a trip with four tours included, two nights in a five star hotel, all transportation plus breakfast and dinner – 210 US Dollars per person! 

 

Yesterday Paul and I joined up with Becky and Andy off Spectra and hired a 175 cc Enduro for the day so we could independently tour around the island – and what a day we managed to pack in!  The fumigators came early to deposit some globules of gel in the boat (a bit late as we are leaving in three days – but essential to acquire our Zarpe which is the document we need to clear out of the country – and gain entry to the next)  Once that was complete (48 US Dollars) we headed off to the ‘high lands’ where the giant tortoises roam free.  We had seen some in pens at the Charles Darwin Research Centre the day before including babies:

 

 

These are just one year old!!

 

Sleepy head!

 

They all looked a bit fed up and bored in their enclosures – but look at this fellow who is free to roam!

 

 

Why did the tortoise cross the road? To get to the other side of course!

 

 

Becky and Andy ahead of us with a bareback rider walking his dogs!

 

 

We brought our own helmets!

 

 

Same shape as the tortoise shell!

 

 

Hunting for wild tortoises with our little guide – Ingrid!

 

 

Look at the green countryside…

 

 

 

 

 

Daddy long legs – they make a load growling noise when scared!

 

Then we went off to another lava tunnel –

 

 

very different from the one the other day – this was more uniform with a high vaulted ‘ceiling’ – quite spooky to think of the red hot lava shooting through and solidifying on the outside.  These bones were sitting at the entrance!

 

 

 

Light at the end of the tunnel…….

 

 

Sorry its fuzzy (wrong setting) but look at the gap we had to crawl under!!

We were very muddy when we came out the other side………

 

So off we went for a walk in the woods towards the sea:

 

 

His and hers…….

 

 

Having a little drink in the stream……..

 

 

Through mosquito ally…..

 

 

Weird roots and trunks on route

 

And then a very welcome swim at the end:

 

 

Before the long trek back though the woods and bike ride home exhausted and saddle sore!  But a great day out……..

 

And just in time for feeding time at the fish mongers:

 

 

The pelicans literally quiver with excitement at the thought of the next fish head coming their way!

 

 

Here’s looking at you kid!

 

And tomorrow is another day……………………….