Cristobal Tour
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 7 Apr 2013 22:17
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San Cristobal in a
Minibus Today was our day to explore San
Cristobal (Beez Neez is anchored in the bay of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, just to
the left of the airport on the map, regular flights bring in tourists from
mainland Ecuador). The island is the easternmost
island in the archipelago and one of the oldest geologically. The name
derives from the patron saint of seafarers, Saint Christopher. English speakers
and locals increasingly use San Cristobal in preference to the original English
name of Chatham Island, derived from William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. The island has an area of two hundred and fifteen square
miles. This was the first island Charles Darwin visited when he arrived on the
Beagle. Four yacht crews met together and went off in a mini-bus with
Pedro, our English speaking, National Park guide.
Soon out of the main town we passed
through the small village of El Progreso – the first
area to be inhabited on the island.
Chris on Scott-Free very kindly
organised our trip, (Thank You, Jefe, brilliant job). Our first stop was to walk
up the track to see Laguana El Junco. Pedro, Chris
and Steve (Scott-Free), Mary and Rod (Sheer Tenacity), Ron and Nancy (Always
Saturday) and Bear led the way.
The lake used to provide water in the early days, but now provides a private bath for the frigate birds. The average depth is twenty two feet, but there have been times when this number has dropped to nine feet and risen to thirty.
It was marvelous to sit for a few minutes and watch these big birds using their big bird bath.
We left the group to their ablutions and headed back down the hill.
The highest point on the island, two thousand four hundred feet. Next stop, tortoises YeeHa.
Some of our views
ALL IN ALL A FANTASTIC
BEGINNING TO OUR
DAY |