South America Vacation - The Galapagos Islands

Learn about a new culture, take in some evolutionary history, see unique wildlife, and still get a tan

The rumbling of the engine had finally ceased. Then I heard the clanging of the anchor being lowered into the watery depths. It was early morning and we were at our first shore excursion island. Rissel, our Level III naturalist guide had informed us the night before “we will ring the bell at 5:30 a.m. and be ready to board the pangas at 6 a.m.”

The air conditioner lulled me back to sleep. I awoke to a beeping sound. This was not the promised bell, but my alarm clock going off at 5:25 a.m. I lay in bed waiting for the bell, finally at 5:45 a.m. I got up and started getting ready. A bell finally jingled at five minutes to six. I found out later Rissel had overslept.

We ended up heading out on our hike about 6:30 a.m. No one seemed to care. There are daily written schedules and daily changes to the schedule.

I was in the Galapagos Islands. It was time to kick into vacation mode.

The Galapagos Islands is a perfect place to take kids as an alternative to traditional North American vacations. Where else can you learn about a new culture, take in some evolutionary history, see unique wildlife, and still get a tan?

Our 75-foot boat had eight cabins with room for 16 customers. Seven Ecuadorian crew and a Level III naturalist rounded out our group. On our cruise, there were three families of four and our extended family of three (my daughter and niece). The kids ranged from 10 to 17. The boat came with a small lounge, dinning area, recreation room, and two covered decks.

Rissel, (the only bilingual speaker on the staff) lectured on the history of the islands and its animal kingdom. We had three planned activities every day, usually starting at 6 a.m. Thus adhering to the Ecuadorian unwritten tourist rule: Do not take the northern white people out into the midday sun.

And so it was every day. Up at 5:30 a.m., slap on sunscreen, hike at 6 a.m., come back to the boat, breakfast, another round of SPV 30, snorkel by 10 a.m. (T- shirtless if you dare), then back to the shady coves of the boat. After lunch, a siesta and hide from the sun until 3 p.m. Then lather up one more time and on to another hike or snorkel outing. It was an exciting but frenzied pace.

We had joined up with two families who had already been on the boat for three days. They were starting to wilt from the pressure of wanting to do and see it all. First it was the kids, missing the early morning hikes, then the parents - not wanting to end their siestas - dropping out of the afternoon events.

The Humbolt current, flowing from Southern Chile and Antarctica, kept the water at a moderate 75 F and the air at a soothing 85 F. This lulled us into a false sense of comfort, tempting us to come out from under the lower decks.

Even with 30 SPV, sombrero-type hats, the equator sun still managed to infiltrate our bodies. Man-made products were no match. Some of us were even getting sunburn in the shade. But the burns were offset by the animal life. This is what we came here for - the animals. To get as close as we could to these beautiful creatures without touching.

Standing two feet away from a Blue-Footed Boobie, neither bird nor human afraid of each other.

The Boobie carrying out his instinctive mating ritual, not caring that we had intruded in his territory. Or watching the male Magnificent Frigate Bird puffing out his red-breasted chest as he came swooning down toward his mate, only to miss the landing and become trapped in a bush below his female. Then watching her peck at his head as if to say, “You dolt, we have tourists watching.”

The wildlife while snorkeling was the headline attraction. We observed sea lions, sharks, sting rays, sea turtles, starfish, schools of colorful fish and the most unlikely equator sight - penguins. We never knew what ocean creature would appear, seemingly from out of nowhere, zipping by us. Even coming as close as a sea lion fin slapping the mask of my startled niece. Our five days and four nights on the vessel went by too quickly.

But a trip like this helps stimulate a child’s brain into thinking globally. Before this trip, my daughter never mentioned wanting to travel to a foreign country. Now she’s asking if we can go to Egypt to see the Pyramids and to China to see the Great Wall.

Second mortgage here I come.

If you go:

Flights from North America land in Quito, usually early to late evening. The 600 mile flight to The Galapagos Islands leaves in the early morning. Arriving an extra day early in Quito breaks up the multiple flights and gives you a chance to experience the mountain capital.

Anytime of the year is okay to visit but the best time is from December through April, when the water is the warmest. The summer is fine as there is less rain, but the Humboldt current cools the waters to a frigid (for the Equator) 70 F.

Author : Thomas Kamrath