YACHT DAPHNE – FIVE DAY CRUISE IN THE GALAPAGOS

Tuesday Night: Jeremy’s 60^th Party

It was Jeremy’s 60^th birthday party the night before we were due to go on our cruise.  The theme for the night was to for everybody to become one of the members of his harem.   This involved the women on the rally dressing as tarts and the blokes dressing as women.  Everybody played along and we set off for the street restaurant in all manner of costumes.  Jeremy had caught wind of this only a couple of hours before and turned up as a Sheik.    We all had a great time which the photo’s will verify.  See if you can spot me and John!!!!!

Jeremy was suitably impressed, revelling in the attentiveness of his harem, and conducting the evening like a combined embodiment of Yasser Arafat and Tommy Cooper and also being a considerate soul organised an evening of entertainment to include some erotic, sorry I meant exotic, dancing which quickly became a highlight as drag troupe were invited to get involved (least Pete and I thought so).....Some party!!!!

                                                                                              The conductor at work!!

Day 1 Wednesday: - Bachas/ Baltra Island
We were picked up by bus from our local port and dropped off Baltra Island where we met the good ship Daphne and were shown to our cabins.  They can only accommodate sixteen passengers on board and we were lucky enough to get a nice cabin with bunk beds and a panoramic view but unfortunately we had the main air-conditioning compressor right above our cabin which wasn’t very quite..  After welcome cocktails we were introduced to the crew, all eight of them one being our guide for the trip.

The guides name was Carlos or Charlie and he was really knowledgeable about the wildlife of the Galapagos and spoke very good English.

 We then headed for the deserted, picturesque beach Las Bachas at the northern shore of Santa Cruz we went for a swim in the crystal-clear water.  Afterwards we visited the bay Caleta Tortuga Negra which was close by. At the bay we saw a huge flock of Blue Footed Boobies diving in after shoals of fish.

For all of us, I think, the boat, accommodation, attentiveness of the crew, cleanliness and quality and quantity of the food was a pleasant revelation: particularly when viewed in the context of the last minute doubts surrounding its departure. Straight away the first venue set a standard and level of excitement that was maintained throughout, with many sightings that were outside of normal level of expectations, the Blue footed Boobies in such numbers being just one of them.

We also saw Marine Iguana and the nesting sites for marine turtles of which we found some babies waiting to run the gauntlet of the Frigate birds.

 Massed ranks of Blue Footed Boobies

Blue Footed Boobies diving for dinner.  We then went for a snorkel and managed to see Eagle Rays, Turtles, Puffer Fish and a large shoal of Surgeon fish.

After this we headed back to the boat for a relax and a superb evening meal.  Unfortunately I was going down with the same stomach bug that John had a couple of weeks before.

Day 2 Thursday: Plazas South - Santa Fe
Located on the east of Santa Cruz, the main characteristics on this small island South Plaza are the Opuntia cacti and the carpets of red sesuvium, a succulent plant that turns green in the rainy season. The cactus is the main food of land iguanas, which are usually found resting at the cactus shade.

The island contains one of the largest sea lion colonies, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds nesting, and boobies roosting on the south cliff of the island.

Santa Fe has one of the most beautiful coves in the archipelago. A turquoise lagoon with two small white sand beaches are protected by a peninsular where sea lions rest. A trail runs alongside the coast and then crosses through an Opuntia Forest. These prickly pear cacti are the largest ones in Galapagos.

We went snorkelling in this beautiful bay and saw lots Turtles, Golden Rays, Eagle Rays Sea Lions and the biggest shoal of fish I have ever seen.

The Santa Fe species of land iguanas are larger and of a paler yellow than on the other islands.

Day 3 Friday: Española Island-Punta Suarez-Gardner Bay
One of the oldest islands, Española is small and flat with no visible volcanic crater or vent. Punta Suarez is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious and bold Española Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the brilliantly coloured marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. We managed to see the Mockingbirds and the Galapagos Hawk.

We arrived on the beach to find a large colony of Sea Lions. 

When heavy swells are running, Punta Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air. A colony of Nascar Boobies were nesting there.

Gardner Bay is on the eastern shore and has a magnificent beach. This beach is frequented by a transient colony of sea lions, and is a major nesting site for marine turtles. Around the small islets nearby, we went snorkelling and found lots of fish, turtles, and sharks.

Day 4 Saturday: Floreana - Pto. Cormorant / Devil's crown / Post Office Bay
Floreana Island is perceived as one of the most exotic Islands of the archipelago. At Punta Cormorant we landed on a green olivine sand beach. We then followed a 100 m long path which lead to a lagoon with flamingoes, white-checked pintail ducks and other shorebirds.

We also saw the elusive Galapagos Penguin again.

The trail goes on to a white beach made of grinned coral, it looks like flour. This is the green sea turtle's nesting place.

North of Punta Cormorant and eroded volcano, Devil's Crown, is a snorkel's delight. We saw lots of White Tipped sharks there and one Galapagos Shark.

To the west, Post Office Bay keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers used to send their mail.  We posted our cards and letters there.  Hopefully you will receive them one day.

Day 5 Sunday: Santa Cruz – Highlands and return to Puerto Ayora
The last day took a ride by bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. We saw how the vegetation changed as we went higher.  We visited an area where we saw the Giant Galapagos Tortoises, which are dome–shaped tortoises unique to the island.

Then we went to see a lava tunnel (an amazing natural formation and the product of the various eruptions on the island)