no hay lugar como galápagos

Indescribable. I feel like pictures and stories can't even begin to show the incredible beauty of the Galápagos Islands. Its bright blue waters and sunsets are gorgeous, and it is home to countless species of animals. It's not cheap to go, but it totally vale la pena!

TUESDAY
- Plane from Quito to Guayaquil to the Galápagos
- Ferry across to Isla Santa Cruz
- 2-hour boat ride to Isla Isabela (worst boat ride ever. I didn't know I could get sea sick!)
- Checked into our hostel on the island
- Flamingo-watching!
- Enjoyed the sunset over the water
- Dinner
- Went out for Ashley's 21st birthday!

Ferry to Isla Santa Cruz

Isla Santa Cruz

Beach at Isla Isabela

Girls at the flamingo lake

Sunset at Isla Isabela

Girls on the beach

WEDNESDAY
- 9-mile hike up to and around Volcán Sierra Negra
- Picnic lunch
- Walk around Islote Tintorera (named after the white-tipped sharks)
- Snorkeling!
- Another beautiful sunset
- Dinner
- Sleep early (we were so exhausted)

Volcán Sierra Negra - 6 miles across and 5 miles wide

The group at Volcán Sierra Negra

UNC!

conquer.

Ashley & I

A sea lion on a boat!

Penguins

Marine iguana

Sea lion on Islote Tintorera

About to go snorkeling

Snorkeling!

Another beautiful sunset

THURSDAY
- Up early at 5:00am!
- Boat back to Isla Santa Cruz
- Breakfast & animal-watching at the dock
- Checked into our hostel
- Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant turtles!
- Walk to Tortuga Bay (blue water/white sand beach)
- Relax in the pool at the hostel
- Dinner & shopping

Sunrise at Isla Isabela

A sea lion and a ton of pelicans

Blue-footed booby!

With a giant turtle

Tortugas gigantes

Tortuga Bay

Girls at Tortuga Bay

We saw a baby shark!

FRIDAY
- Breakfast
- Packed up and headed back to the airport
- Stopped at two "twin" craters
- Flew back to Guayaquil, then Quito

At the twin craters

Chau Galápagos!

Pretty amazing, right?