Unbelievably our time here is nearly at an end. It has flown by and we have hardly stopped. The 4 day boat trip was a great way to start off, talk about getting thrown in the deep end! We had barely arrived and we were off with 3 boat loads of friends that we met in Colombia and Panama on a private tour boat. The highlights were snorkelling with very friendly sea-lions,turtles and penguins, watching the huge male frigate birds inflate their red chest to attract the females, the infamous blue footed boobies and eating grass with giant land tortoises. Of course drinking beer on the different islands (which is very good, cheap and sold in huge bottles) oh and sleeping in a real bed for 3 nights and having a shower every day..bliss!

Each island has a very different personality and our favourite was probably Isabella. It is way more laid back than Santa Cruz (probably soon to be a tourist hell). We hiked up to Sierra Negra, a still active volcano that is about 70km around the rim. Then over to Chico which is how you would imagine walking on Mars to be. Our precious guide (obligatory)  was all flustered when we nearly got attacked by a "savage" cow but it was fine to go stand on an overhanging, eroded outcrop over a smouldering huge hole disappearing into the earth.... Thanks God there's no Health & Safety here!

Back at the boat in San Cristobal, we have been re-provisioning yet again, cleaning the hull yet again but managing to have some fun. We went diving at Kicker Rock with Galapagos, Hammerhead and Black-Tip Sharks which was pretty amazing. The poor turtles didn't get a second look!

We also snorkelled with marine Iguanas which is an odd experience. They really look bizarre clinging to the rocks and eating weed underwater then swimming around something like a croc.

Now all our friends have left so we have a chance to get the boat ready for the next passage. This is the long one - 3000 miles to the Marquesas. The winds look pretty good so we are off today!