Stop #3 on the trip was Isla Santa Cruz in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. We redeemed 10,000 Avianca LifeMiles plus $17.70 in taxes each (60,000 Avianca LifeMiles plus $106.20 total) for the one-way flight from Quito to Baltra Island and then took a 5 minute ferry ride over to Isla Santa Cruz. There were no points hotels in any of the Galápagos Islands, so we booked a quadruple room for $159/night for 2 nights at Hotel Fernandina (includes breakfast). On the way from the airport to the hotel, we paid the taxi driver $20 extra ($50 total) to take us to El Chato Reserve where he waited for us for about 2 hours so we could see the giant tortoises in the wild, climb through the lava tunnels, and see the giant twin craters (Los Gemelos).
Los Gemelos ("the twins") are 2 giant craters which were formed when there was volcanic activity below the surface, which created a void and ultimately caved in.
The kids with 3 giant tortoises playing in the mud.
The kids watching a giant tortoise in El Chato Reserve.
There were about 5,000 giant tortoises in the wild in this area and we went on a walk for about 30 minutes and saw a couple dozen of them.
There are a few lava tunnels located in the area that we were able to walk through.
The family at the entrance to one of the lava tunnels.
Zander, monkeying around.
One of "Los Gemelos"
Photo op with one of the giant tortoises.
Giant tortoise.
Giant tortoise.
Video of the family walking up on a giant tortoise.
After we got back to the hotel, we wandered around the town a little bit, then headed back to get some sleep. We woke up the next day and headed out to Tortuga Bay, which was about a 45 minute hike down a paved trail to a beautiful white sand beach. There were a bunch of marine iguanas on the beach, just lounging around. We took a stroll to the other end of the beach, and around the corner was a more secluded area where there were no waves. Cody went for a snorkel, but there was not much to see. The kids spent some time playing in the sand and the water and running down the beach.
Eliza and the kids at Tortuga Bay.
Whippermans at Tortuga Bay, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
A marine iguana, just hanging out in the rocks at Tortuga Bay.
The kids, making the trek back to civilization from the gorgeous Tortuga Bay.
A marine iguana, hanging out on the beach at Tortuga Bay.
Cody, with a marine iguana at Tortuga Bay.
Sawyer, at Tortuga Bay.
Nash, writing his name in the white sand at Tortuga Bay.
Our 3 boys, having fun together in the sand at Tortuga Bay.
Cody, trying to get a marine iguana to come closer at Tortuga Bay.
The boys, trying to find a fort in the branches on the beach at Tortuga Bay.
Whipperman take Tortuga Bay...2015.
Video of the kids running on the beach at Tortuga Bay.
After a great morning at Tortuga Bay, we made our way back to the hotel (it was getting hot) and the kids went for a swim, while Daddy went into town to grab lunch for everyone. Once we had enough downtime at the pool, we were back at it and headed out on another hike for Las Grietas ("the cracks"), where we would do a fresh water snorkel in cool water.
The "hike" out to Las Grietas had some cool cacti and plants.
Sawyer, Ryder, and Nash, on the path to Las Grietas.
Cody, Ryder, and Nash were the first in the water at Las Grietas. There was one narrow, deep channel with plenty of fish to see. The channel seemed to go on for a while...we made it through 4 different sections before we headed back.
Cody, Ryder, and Nash, snorkeling at Las Grietas, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Cody and Nash after their snorkel.
Daddy and Sawyer after a nice snorkel through Las Grietas.
The kids, playing on the teeter-totter while we waited for our ferry to take us across the channel to Las Grietas.
There was a small ferry (5 minutes) to take us across the channel to Las Grietas for our hike and snorkel.
Ryder and Nash on La Tortuga in the town of Isla Santa Cruz.
When we got back from Las Grietas, we were able to see the famous Blue-footed Boobies (a Galapagos specialty) dive bombing into the ocean for fish.
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