A Tour of the Galapagos Islands A Kent Christensen November National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions (
Galapagos Islands, 600 miles west of Ecuador Youngest ~0.5M years "hot spot" Oldest ~10M years Isabela Fernandina Santa Cruz Floreana Española Santiago San Cristóbal Baltra (airport)
Our cruise ship, National Geographic Polaris
My cabin aboard the Polaris
We traveled between ship and shore in rubber boats, called zodiacs
Sea lion
A mother sea lion and her nursing cub
Land iguana
Marine iguanas
Marine iguana
Lava lizard
Blue-footed boobies, male and female
Young frigatebird
Male frigatebird, expanded red throat pouch to court females
Galapagos waved albatross, on Española Island.
Galapagos hawk, one of the few predators
Mockingbird, Española Island
One of 13 kinds of Darwin's finches on Galapagos Islands
Galapagos penguin
Fresh water lake, Floreana Island
Flamingos on the lake, Floreana Island
White-cheeked pintail duck
Sally lightfoot crabs
Sally lightfoot crab
Historic post office barrel, Floreana Island
Bottle-nosed dolphins "bow riding" our ship
A green sea turtle in the water beside our zodiac
Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, highest in the Galapagos, 5600 ft. (=1707 m)
Harbor of Puerta Ayora, with our ship in the background
Young tortoises at a breeding facility, Charles Darwin Research Station
Adult giant tortoise (and Kent), Charles Darwin Research Station
Lush vegetation in the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island. At left is the Altair Restaurant, where we had lunch
Wild giant tortoises migrating for optimal food.
Wild giant tortoise (and Kent)
Head of a giant tortoise
Snorkelers enjoying underwater marvels
Sea stars seen from a glass bottom boat
A razor surgeonfish, glass bottom boat
A stingray, glass bottom boat
Shark, glass bottom boat
A snorkeler swam under the glass bottom boat
Approaching Baltra Island and the airport, after eight wonderful days in the Galapagos Islands