Map of the cruise route
We flew from Quito to the airport on Baltra Island, via the coastal city of Guayaquil early on 20th May, having all met up the previous evening at the Mercure Almeda hotel in Quito. At Baltra we transferred to our boat, the TipTop IV. After a briefing and a very nice lunch we set off for the nearby island of North Seymour. The usual scenario involved the boat mooring offshore, with a transfer onto each island by panga [a zodiac type boat with outboard] - the landings were either 'dry' onto rocks or a simple jetty, or 'wet' which involved exiting over the side of the panga into the water on a beach. Each day there would be a morning island hike, followed by transfer back to the boat for lunch, then maybe an afternoon hike at a different landing point, or the chance for snorkelling. Occasionally there would be a panga ride at coastal locations where landing was not possible. The other regular daily event was the evening briefing and day list in the comfortable lounge on the TipTop IV. During these, Ernesto would outline what the plan was for the following day, and then together with Andy we would go through the checklist to check off what we had seen during the day. The long transfers were mostly overnight, although we did do some day cruising during long transfers, giving the opportunity to look for cetaceans and sea birds. The most notable of these were from Elizabeth Bay on Isabela, round to Puerto Villamil, and from Espanola past the East side of San Cristobal, to Punta Pitt.
Click here to continue to the daily diary.
Click here to continue to the daily diary.