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

We did the 360 tour in San Cristobal. See my blog post from Kicker rock for details on snorkeling with hammerhead sharks and eagle rays. this was an 8 hour tour. First stop we went to kicker rock to snorkel with hammerhead, black tip, and eagle rays. From there we saw Darwins Window, a rock formation that highlights kicker rock in the background. After leaving Kicker rock we stopped at a Cerro Brujo beach for swimming with more h sea lion and sea turtles. The boat anchors an

We did the 360 tour in San Cristobal. The cost was $160pp with a 10% charge for using a credit card. Some places charged 15% and others didn't charge at all so it was a bit strange trying to figure out the pricing system on island. I have decided to give Kicker Rock it's very own blog page because it was THAT amazing!! You absolutely must do kicker rock while in the Galapagos. Some tours do a 360 (all the way around the island with additional stops) while others just go to Ki

We booked the 360 tour to circle the entire island of San Cristobal. We ended up on the “golden reel” fishing boat. The boat was a bit jangy, especially when compared to the Natural Paradise. The guide was “fair”, compared to James, but it was a full 8 hour day with lots of varied activities (snorkeling with hammerhead and eagle rays, beach time, deep sea fishing, lagoon swim, and on the way back we spend some time hanging out with a couple hundred bottle nosed dolphins). So

We decided to rent a bicycle to explore San Cristobal on our own time. There are bicycle rentals everywhere so no need to book in advance. Do triple check that the the bike is fully functional (especially the brakes as it’s a steep decent from the highlands)., We rented from a tour operator on Herman Melviille street since it was only a few buildings away from the Sunset Galapagos hotel. Cost was $20 for the day. Included helmets and an emergency repair kit. They are open 7-7

Sea lions take over the streets at night The island of San Cristobal is the second most populated island in the Galapagos, home to approximately 10,000 people (Santa Cruz has a population of 25,000 and Isabela a population of 4,000 people). However, it’s the sea lions that steal the show here in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (downtown San Cristobal) where sea lions will take over city benches and peers. These marine mammals are known for their playful behavior, barking, and ability

On the day of debarkation we had one final dingy ride to observe the inhabitants of Los Lobas Island off the coast of San Cristobal. We did this early in the morning (before breakfast) to catch the animals especially active and to watch the sunrise over San Cristobal Island. The name of this island means "Sea Lion Island." This appropriately named island is ripe with noisy, frolicking, jolly sea lions who will welcome you to their home with open, well, fins. This island also

In the AM we did a dry landing at Suarez Point. This area is great for spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies. A beautiful site on the oceanfront, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air. This site presents wonderful photography opportunities. WE were greeted by playful sea lions and Christmas iguanas as we landed at Suarez Point for an early morning

In the early morning we took a hike to Suarez Point on the island of Espanola to see massing colony of Nazca Boobies (and of course sea lions and blue footed boobies). After breakfast we went for our last snorkeling excursion of the trip to Gardner Bay to swim with juvenile sea lions and observe coral along cliff walls. This turned out to be my favorite of the trip. Our very last snorkel of the trip was my absolute favorite!! After breakfast we went out to snorkel with Juve

The crew of the Natural Paradise always goes above and beyond to ensure our wildlife encounters are amazing!! After a full day of excursions we were instructed to turn on all our balcony lights. This brought in many flying fish, which in turn brought in 6-10 foot Galapagos Sharks and sea lions. Interestingly, during the day sharks and sea lions do not get along, but at night they can hunt together in a symbiotic relationship. At one point we watched a flying fish crash into t

This beach is ranked number one in the Galapagos and I suspect it’s right up there in ranking world wide. After our early morning hike to find Nazca boobies, Christmas iguanas, and friendly sea lions we did an amazing snorkel with juvenile sea lions. The day wasn’t over! After lunch we had the opportunity for a wet landing on Gardner bay beach and some private time to just reflect upon the beauty of all that is the Galapagos. Situated on the north coast of Española Island, on

Baroness Viewing Point is a fantastic place to absorb the environment of the Galapagos. Once inhabited by an indulgent baroness and her three lovers, the history of this island is intriguing. The legends about this baroness are associated with a fascinating murder mystery. There are easy trails in this area for exploring the flora and fauna of Floreana. Morning wet landing onto a completely deserted beach with only Sea Lions and Christmas Iguanas to greet us You can see our d

We had a 5:45 wake up and a 6:30 hike at Chinese hat where I was licked by a curious baby sea lion. Came back onboard to a wonderful breakfast. We had an hour to change into our swim gear and slip into our wet suits and off we went again! Chinese Hat M: CHINESE HAT ISLET This small islet is located near the southeast coast of Santiago Island. Its name comes from the distinct shape of the islet's summit. This small islet is a great location to view many geological formations

Early 5:30 am wake up call this morning so that we could do a wet landing at China man’s hat. We needed to go early because there are a concentration of babies sea lions here. The mom‘s hunt in the morning so they are not there to protect them (they get defensive) so this makes it a perfect morning for observation. This curious baby licked my toe!