Galapagos Trip Report - Day 1 - Swimming with Penguins

Locations Covered: Bartolome Island Galapagos

The tingly feeling in my fingers finally went away as soon as we touched ground in the Galapagos on TAME airlines! I was so relieved. I'm not going to die from AMS in Ecuador after all. (You must realize I am a bit of a drama queen by now!)

We were picked up by our guide from the airport to start our 5 day 4 night cruise of the Galapagos on the Seaman yacht. The boat didn't look that large from afar but it was quite spacious on board. Our cabin was small with a bunk bed but clean.

Before we even got on the boat, we already had our first sighting of a seal lounging on a bench at the harbor. The animals here are absolutely fearless of humans!

I was so excited!


After lunch and logistics, we docked near Bartolome and hopped on pangas to the island. The Panga is an inflatable motor raft that ferries people from where the ship has anchored to shore.

We had a couple hours here to swim and sunbathe. We're off to a such great start! This is one of my favorite Galapogos photos of all time. You get to swim with cute little penguins.


(The beach at Bartolome)

I have to warn that the water is a little cold however. Thankfully I'd purchased a short wet suite before hand. You can also snorkel here and see all kinds of fish!

After the swim it was back on the boat for a little bit as we sailed to another side of the island where we could ascend the summit trail just in time for sunset. There are some wooden stairs and a sandy pathway to the top.

The view from the top was spectacular. Here you can see all the peaks formed from volcanic activity. I'm really loving this place.


When we got back to the boat, we had some time to lie around on the deck followed by dinner and a briefing of the next day's activities. The chefs on board cook a variety of dishes. There's usually chicken, fish, vegetables, rice, potatoes, dessert and fruit. The style of cooking is homey and healthy. They are also very accommodating if you have food restrictions.

Deck for sunbathing and napping:


Dinner:


What I wish I'd Known - Tips for You

You don't have to bring your own snorkeling equipment. You can rent one on the board for about $15.

I don't SCUBA dive but this was offered on our boat. People who'd like to scuba go out on excursions very early in the morning so it doesn't interfere with day activities.

Bring a short suit if you're going when the waters are cold (August)

Ecuador Travel Guide - Start your Planning Here!

This guide is for the independent traveler. I like planning my own vacation for more flexibility and control (ok I admit I am part control-freak). No need for travel agents!

Resources

Mini's Ecuador Itinerary - Includes Quito and the Galapagos (Cruise + Island Stay) - 12 days

Ecuador Top 10 Facts- My version of Cliff Notes

Ecuador Vendor Review - Zenith Travel: Ecuador based agent

Galapagos Cruise Review - Seaman Yacht

Quito Hotel Review - Hostal Jardin Del Sol

Should I book a 5 or 8 day cruise to the Galapagos?

My Ecuador Trip Report | Diary
Ecuador and the Galapaogs - A dream vacation
Day 1: Quito - Otavalo, Peguche Falls
Day 2: Quito - Old Town
Day 3: Galapagos Cruise Day 1
Day 4: Galapagos Cruise Day 2

What's the recommended length of a Galapagos Cruise?

Penguins seen on one of our Panga rides.

Of course this depends on a variety of factors.


Do you want luxury or can you rough it out a little?
Typically the luxury cruises have bigger boats and tourists have to be broken up into smaller group to get onto the islands. We went with a First Class | Tourist Superior boat (ratings vary) that sleeps 16 people. The crowd was varied, couples, students, single travelers, and retirees. No kids. It certainly makes shore activities a lot more efficient. A luxury boat has its advantages too, more stability, larger cabin, and better facilities.

How comfortable are you sleeping on a boat?
Due to booking last minute (a common theme with me?), we weren't able to get an 8 day cruise and had to settle for a 5 day one. That turned out to be a blessing for me because it can be quite rough sleeping in cramped quarters on a boat! Many of the other passengers on the trip also echoed my sentiments. However, I really loved the islands so it is a tough call.

We decided to spend our remaining 2 days on Isabela Island (the largest of the Galapagos islands). Comparing the 2, we definitely saw a lot more while on the cruise.


Are you prone to getting very sea sick?
I don't usually get seasick. While on the Seaman Yacht, I was ok during the day however both P and I weren't able to sleep the first night. The boat usually travels at night and it was extremely choppy. We got smart the second day however and took some Dramamine which helped us sleep like babies.

How much are you willing to spend?
Luxury Class: > $3,000
First Class: $1,900 - $3,000
Tourist Superior: $1,500 - $1,900
Tourist: $1,000 - $1,500

Do you need to visit every island?
I was very satisfied with what we saw. Every creature imaginable. We swam with turtles and penguins, sunbathed with seals, saw reef sharks, blue footed boobies, red footed boobies, and iguanas. Don't quote me on this though, since we don't know what we missed not having seen all the islands! My favorite island was Genovesa though with more time we could have gone out to Fernandina.

A lovely view from Bartolome Island: