Galapagos

30th Mar - 16th Apr, 2022

This is the short version of our Equator crossing

This is the long version, with our speech, for anyone who is interested ;-)

Sea Lions are taking over our swim platform

All bio gradable products for Galapagos...and beyond. The authorities loved these, and so do we

Colorful sign in the harbor of San Cristobal

Lazy Sea lion occupying the bench on the dock

Nursing time on the rocks

The Sea lions are so funny and lazy, just lying like this sun bathing

Roped off nesting area for Iguanas

Look at this cute baby hugging it's mommy

Passing Kicker Rock on our way to Punta Pitt. Kicker Rock is a very popular dive and snorkel spot. Punta Pitt is the most northern tip of San Cristobal. Good snorkeling and hiking with bird watching

The beach at Punta Pitt where we started our hike

Snorkel with Sea Lions at Punta Pitt. They are so playful and curious

Birds eating on the beach. Our ride is at anchor

Galapagos Gecko. This is a female. She has the red breast to look scary and scare enemies away. The male does not have the red chest

Another Blue footed Booby nesting the two eggs

Blue footed Booby nesting her eggs. The blue footed Boobies always have their nest on the ground like this. They not really build a nest they just poop in a big circular around their nest

A Mockingbird. They have learned that they can get food from humans. so they come up very close. Of course we are not allowed to feed them

Red footed Booby. They are always nesting up in trees or bushes. Therefore the three different type of Boobies can live together here in the same area. The third kind, can't remember the name, lives up under the cliffs

A male and female Blue footed Booby are interacting

Selfie at the most Eastern point in the Galapagos

Spectacular surrounding mountains. Cool to see how the water flows when it's raining

There are goats on top of the hill. Goats are not popular here since they eat up all vegetation

This male has nicely made his females laying down in a neat row

A hike on the rugged south coast of San Cristobal,rom La Loberia beach. Here it's really green compare to the north coast, but lots of black lava rocks



This handsome Iguana is really enjoying his time sunbathing on this rock. If you zoom in you can see his eyes closed

And he is here! Benjamin is testing out his underwater housing for his camera. All went well so now his ready for his dive at Kicker rock

Approaching Kicker Rock

This is the west, green side of Kicker Rock

Benjamin is preparing his underwater housing for his camera, for his dive

Ready to jump....Ready Set Go....

Swimming with Hammer Head Sharks at Kickers Rock, Galapagos. A once in a lifetime experience...

Tired Anders after lots of snorkeling around Kicker Rock

After a great dinner ashore we were walking down the dock to get a Water Taxi out to Horizon, then we passed this beautiful Pelican on the dock railing

Last Day in San Cristobal we ,visited the highlands. We also went to visit the Tortoise sanctuary . It was amazing to see these big creature in their habitat. This sanctuary has been very successful to protect the giant Galapagos Tortoise. So now they have plans to close it down, and maybe instead use it as a learning center.

A walk up to El Junco, in the highland of San Cristobal

At the top you can overlook the old Vulcano with it's natural fresh water lake

Lots of moss on the trees here in this humid environment

Here you can see how big they are. Anders is posing in the background

A little male Galapagos lava lizard

These young, around a year old, Tortoise babies are kept in these "cages" for their first years, since their shell is still soft and vulnerable to predators

A male and a female interacting. The male is almost double the size as the female. Very intimidating

The male gave up and walked right across the the trail for us. Here you can see how big he is

A baby eating green

This is a five year old. Now they don't need to be protected against predators, since they have developed their hard shells

Big turtle out eating apples

Selfie in front of one of the ponds for the Tortoise

A very muddy Tortoise

I love this muddy face

Happy Tortoises in the mud pond

Tortoise poop

On our way to Isabela. 80nm. We did an overnighter. Handsome skipper today

Spinnacker ride most of the time

Spinnacker in the sunset

Horizon now anchored in Puerto Vilamil, Isla Isabel

Our ride to Los Tunnels. Isla Isabel

Passed this rock on the way. Boobies and Sealions on top

After a wild ride through the reef with Big braking waves we came in to this very sheltered area, Los Tuneles. Beautiful lava rock formations with lots of tunnels over and under the water. That's why this area is called Los Tunnels

Blue footed Boobies

Sheltered behind the reefs. You can see the breaking waves

The water was so calm and clear, like an aquarium. We were slowly driving through this area that was like a maze

Lots of sea turtles here

A lazy little penguin laying on his side, slowly paddling. Yes, there are penguins here. The smallest in the world

Posing on one of the many bridges, Los Tunnels

Our ride is parked in this beautiful spot in the middle of this lava maze

Tintoreras is a group of lava islands right in the harbor in Isabela. Here we saw this cute penguin. We didn't know there were penguins here in Galapagos. So cute

Iguana egg shells. This is a big breeding area for Iguanas. Right now big areas are closed off for mating

A walk on Tintoreras island. You can see the Vulcano Sierra Negra on Isabela in the distance

In this tunnel you can see white tipped sharks resting at the bottom. Sea lions comes here to play with the sharks. They love to bite on the sharks fins

Benjamin Rhodin try to stay in the shade. It's pretty hot here

This was the highlight of our snorkeling tour here in Tintoreras. We snorkeled in a tunnel and came upon five big white tip sharks who were resting right below us

A walk in the wetland. Had to cross this bridge that was full of Iguanas

Then we visited the Tortoise sanctuary on Isabela. Here they have five different kind of Tortoise, out of eleven that is found on Isabela island. This one is unique to Isabela with it's flat shell. That is so they can have longer necks to be able to eat from bushes and trees since they live in areas where there are no ground vegetations. I had no clue that there are so many variants of Tortoises. All adopted to their specific habitat

We have enjoyed a fun busy week with Benjamin Rhodin here in Galapagos. We've seen lot more wildlife that we would hope for. Benjamin loved his diving experience. He got good use out of his underwater housing for his camera. Looking forward to see the pictures.

And he is off, in the water taxi.

The OCC Port Officer, Javier Rizzo, in Galapagos is just amazing. So professional and always goes the extra mile to help everyone. Very appreciated

A little OCC gathering in Santa Cruz, Galapagos. Crew Horizon, Crew Voila and OCC PO Javier

So many crabs on the shore next to the restaurant. The waiter told us the story, that they use to eat them and they are delicious. But then one man came from mainland Equador and then brought all of his family and friends, and they ate a lot of the crabs so they were almost instinct. So now it's not allowed to catch and eat them

We visited the Darwin Research center in Santa Cruz. Worth a visit! They are doing a great job preserving the unique nature and wildlife in Galapagos.

the Research Station is essential to provide scientific knowledge and technical advice to the Government of Ecuador to ensure the conservation of Galapagos.

We took a taxi up to the Highland in Santa Cruz. This is the start of the trail to the sinkholes. The ferns were Hugh and very green

At the first sinkhole. Very Impressive

The scientific explanation of the sinkholes

This is one BIG sinkhole

Lots of moisture up here, so therefore all the moss on the bushes and trees

Next we went to the lava tunnels. At the entrance we found this cute Owl in his nest

This is the entrance to one of the lava tunnels. This was the longest one, 400m

Well lit up in the tunnel

It was a little tight sometimes. Had to crawl through this narrow part

This is the beautiful exit of the lava tunnel

We visited a local farm in the Highlands. They offered a tour of their land with lots of Tortoises. They are wild and free to come and go. But they like to go back here since there is plenty of food

A very muddy couple. The male, the bigger one , is around 140 years all. The female is young, only 100 years old ;-)

I Love this picture with the reflection of the Tortoise in the water

Here you can see the size of the turtle compare to me

We did a Tortuga Bay tour, right outside Puerto Ayora. Beautiful landscape

A walk up on the peninsula

None shall Pass.... ;-)

These cactuses are stunning. Just look at the old big stem

Our Guide is explaining the wildlife in Galapagos

The crabs are so pretty and colorful

We had a BIG school of rays around our boat....

Then we walked to this natural brackish water pond, Las Grietas. It was very refreshing since it was colder. Lots of people here with life jackets on.

We dove in and swam to the other side, no life jackets :-)

This is were the local fisherman comes in with their catch. It's so funny to see how all the animals are begging, very polite, for some fresh fish. Lots of Pelicans, Iguanas and Sea lions. They beg like dogs :-)

Stocking up with fresh veggies and fruit at the local market

Lots of fresh food at the market

Well stocked for our long passage

Happy Easter from Horizon :-)

Two OCC Gathering here in Santa Cruz, Galapagos.

This is S/V Horizon, S/V Voila and OCC Port Officer Javier

Our reserved table for OCC Members :-)

The second OCC Dinner. S/V Horizon, S/V Broadsword, S/V Kawaine2 and OCC Port Officer Javier

Last night in Galapagos. Beautiful full moon :-)

We have really enjoyed our stay here in Galapagos. What a special place. We've been here now for more than two weeks. A must see for sure

Now we set sail for Pitcairn, 2750 NM. Our longest passage so far. It will take us around 20 days, so ETA around 6th of May.

Looking forward to visit the smallest (only around 45 people lives there, at least half of them ascendent from the people from the Mutiny on Bounty), and probably one of the most remote countries in the world.

If you want to track our journey you can do that here

https://share.garmin.com/SailingVesselHorizon

You can also follow us here

https://www.noforeignland.com/boat/6524919175184384/journey

Hopefully we have cell coverage in Pitcairn.

Thanks for following our adventures

And Inspection and Clearing out is all done. Pitcairn here we come :-)