Our first snorkeling experience with an entire colony of baby sea lions. This was such an incredible experience. They are so curious, playful, and FAST! Snorkeling with baby sea lions is a unique and thrilling experience that allows you to witness these playful creatures in their natural habitat. Sea lions are wild animals, and while they are generally friendly, they can be curious and playful. It's important to respect their space and avoid any signs of aggression. One ba

After a full week in Puerto Ayoya we headed back to the Balta airport to meet up with our Naturalist and gather the remaining 11 passengers so that we could all board a our home for the next 8 daya to explore the uninhabited islands in the Galapagos (never thought I’d say that). The Natural Paradise is a brand new ship in the luxury yacht category. Special amenities including a hydro-massage, 4-person Jacuzzi and spacious outside decks for relaxing, a large dining area and bo

Planning a month long trip to the Galapagos was overwhelming. After months of research we settled in on the 8 day B itinerary with Natural Paradise with a week on Puerta Ayoya pre cruise and a week in San Cristobal island post-cruise. .The Natural Paradise is a modern luxury yacht Accommodating up to 16 guests (we had 13 on our sailing) in elegant and comfortable surroundings, each cabin has a private bathroom, air-conditioning, and ample storage space. Cabins on the upper de

On the way back from the Galapagos, it is always recommended to spend an extra night in Quito. The flights out of Galapagos are often delayed or cancelled so having a buffer night is a good idea. The flight from Galapagos to Quito is about 5 hours with a 45 minute stop in Guiaquil to gas up (you don't leave the plane). The flight from Quito home (with a stop in Atlanta) was 9 hours so it was nice to break this up a bit with an overnight stay at the Holiday Inn. I messaged the

Our hotel in San Cristobal If you are looking for a location with a great view in the center of town you would be hard pressed to find a hotel better than the Sunset Galápagos. The service was exceptional and the room was spotless. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this hotel!!! From our balcony we could watch all the comings and goings of the waterfront, and were always entertained by the huge colony of sea lions that call the downtown San Cristobal home. We had a corner balcony giving us

This sea lion chased me away from his bench We gave him a wide berth walking off the pier. And this sea lion wasn't letting bob pass And it wasn't letting this group pass either Sometimes you need to take a different path For the most part, the sea lions and humans cohabitate. In the evening they close the main road along the water so the sea lions can take over. It's not uncommon to have to stop the car to let a sea lion cross. They are LITERALLY everywhere in San Cristobal.

The hike to Cerro Tijeretas can easily be done from downtown San Cristobal. It's found in all trails. First head to the education center (free entry). The hike is listed as 3.2 miles, but it's HOT HOT HOT so take extra water. There was an excellent spot to go snorkeling with steps to enter the water. We forgot to bring our snorkle gear here so something to look forward to on our next visit. There were amazing vista viewing points on the top of the 'mountain'. This is a popula