Galapagos 2011

Lying 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, formed by deep sea volcanoes and populated by the wind and waves, the Galapagos Islands are like no other place on earth. Only three million years old, and so recently inhabited by humans, the resident animals evolved with no fear of human predators. As a result, the birds, reptiles, mammals and even the fish either pay no attention to humans or express their curiosity by coming closer for a better look, allowing unbelievably intimate wildlife experiences.

Our trip began by traveling in a different direction - up. From Ecuador’s capital city of Quito, at 8500 feet elevation, we spent our first day visiting Cotopaxi National Park. Named for its 20,000 foot tall glacier-covered volcanic mountain, access to the park is over rough, often boulder-strewn narrow roads. Somehow, our large and comfortable bus rambled its way upward and onward, managing roads that I would have thought were only suitable for jeeps.

Read the full trip report in the attached PDF file.