Galápagos Islands

Our last and final program trip to the Galápagos Islands was nothing short of incredible. The anticipation had been building up for quite awhile and we were all anxious to experience what everyone here in Ecuador boasts as one of the “7 wonders of the underwater world” (which it officially IS...I looked it up!) – and it certainly did NOT disappoint. Unlike the other program trips, this one was entirely just for fun and enjoyment and had no “educational objectives” – so needless to say we all couldn’t wait to kick back for a few days before finals began and take in the extraordinary beauty of this “underwater wonder.” We visited four of the islands in just four days – San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Floreana, and Baltra – and spent many hours enjoying leisurely boat rides and frequent stops at various beaches along the way. I could gush for days about how amazing the Galápagos are, but I think my pictures describe it better than I can, so I’ll let you see for yourselves...

Major highlights included:

• Swimming and snorkeling with sea lions, marine turtles, sharks (although I didn’t personally see one, apparently there WAS a shark sighting!), penguins, HUGE manta rays, and an assortment of bright and beautiful fish.

• Watching dolphins jump and play right up alongside our boat during one of our sailing trips between islands.

Look closely...I caught a shot of one of the dolphins mid-jump!

• Visiting the Charles Darwin research station and seeing many different types of tortoises and other reptiles, including a tortoise appropriately named “Lonesome George," who is the very last tortoise of his species in existence.

 

• Swimming and relaxing on an idyllic, paradisal beach for the afternoon.

• Exciting animal sightings including a blue-footed booby (bird with bright blue feet native to the Galápagos) and a plethora of funny-looking iguanas!

• Visiting a couple different conservation sites where we saw hundreds of tortoises in their natural habitats.

• Watching the sunset over the ocean from the top of the boat…breathtaking.

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an unforgettable experience that I am so grateful for! And a great way to end this semester abroad with a bang.

The whole group – Duke in the Andes Fall 2011