Photo R. Sievers
…with an expert and engaging crew to look after our every need.
There is, of course, a lot of water to traverse, but we do most of it at night…
…waking up each morning in a new locale…
…to commune with the likes of Swallow-tailed Gull, endemic to the Galápagos and one of the world's most beautiful larids…
…Flightless Cormorant, the only flightless member of the family…
…and the stunning Waved Albatross.
One of the delights of the Galápagos is how tame all the creatures are. Here we approach Great Frigatebirds in full display…
…and they just ignore us.
The same is true for Nazca and…
…Red-footed Boobies…
…and for small birds such as Galápagos Flycatcher, which often approach within arm's length.
Birds aren't the only unconcerned creatures. Land Iguanas are equally relaxed…
…as are the celebrated Marine Iguanas…
…and Land Tortoises, too, although their powers of rapid flight are admittedly limited.
Some of the landscapes are quite stark in their beauty, as new lava has yet to support plants…
…but some are just stunning—here a view of Bartolomé.
The middle elevations of the islands are covered in a deciduous tropical short forest, home to flycatchers and mockingbirds—and, of course, many of Darwin's famous finches, including…
…Large Ground-Finch, here showing off its enormous seed-cracking bill…
…Medium Ground-Finch, the Mamma Bear of the ground-finch trio…
…and the more common (and exceedingly tame) Small Ground-Finch.
The highest elevations see frequent light drizzle, enough to support lush epiphytic growth and provide habitat for some of the scarcer finches, such as…
…this Woodpecker Finch, with its distinctive bill shape.
We'll also visit this mist-drenched Miconia and fern habitat, home to Galápagos Rail and the nesting area of Galápagos Petrel.
Common Cactus-Finch, here taking advantage of water stored in cactus pads, occurs at a much lower, drier elevation.
We'll walk on many islands, past breeding birds (see the boobies just ahead of the lead person)…
…and up rocky faces. Prince William's Steps on Genovesa Island lead to the Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel colony. The bay below is just one of many places offering excellent snorkeling opportunities.
There are many picturesque beaches we can wander, some of which are home to breeding sea turtles…
…dozing sea lions…
…and curious mockingbirds, in this case Espanola Mockingbird.
We'll look at all things natural, such as the endemic melastome *Miconia robinsoniana*…
..and this cheerful *Cordia luteola*, which brightens up the landscape even during the midst of the dry season.
We'll certainly see delightful Sally Lightfoot crabs, endemic to the Galápagos…
…and Lava Lizard, a female from Isabela Island.
There's even at least one endemic butterfly, the Galápagos Blue.
We'll take a one-day excursion at the tour's end to see San Cristóbal Mockingbird, thereby also visiting the easternmost island.
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