When an underwater volcano bubbles lava to the surface of the
ocean, it forms an island void of vegetation and any other forms of life. But,
over time, nature takes its course and an ecosystem develops. The amount and diversity of vegetation on an
island is a clear indication of the island's age. In the life of our planet,
this has been a common occurrence in the Pacific ocean, creating the Galapagos Islands, Hawaiian Islands, Easter Island and many others. So, in geological terms, most of the islands in the Galapagos archipelago were the youngest islands we've been to.
We boarded a small ship, and found our cabin that was to be our
home for the next 5 days. In total, there were fewer than 100 people on board, including crew and naturalists.
Each night, we travelled to a different island in the archipelago,
then we'd go on a guided tour in the morning, return to the ship for lunch,
then do another in the afternoon. Each tour
involved either snorkelling or hike.
Charles Darwin had visited these Islands in the 1830s, and spawned his theory of evolution based on observations of unique wildlife.
Even today, these animals are not afraid of humans, much like animals around
the world before contact with human beings thousands of years ago. Getting close
to wildlife that weren't afraid of us, and that weren't looking for a food handout,
was a mind-bending experience.
We got up and personal with iguanas, birds of all kinds, sea turtles, seals, large tortoises, and more.
In an attempt to protect the sensitive environment, freeform
adventuring was prohibited, and guides were required by local law. We have a
preference for do-it-on-our-own adventures, but under the circumstances, it
was easy to understand the necessity of guides to protect flora and fauna from
aggressive tourists.
Fortunately for us though, the guides stayed on shore though while
we snorkelled, resulting in less scripted outcomes. An unplanned event
that was a thrill for me was when a couple of playful adult seals approached
me, wanting to include me in their antics. One stopped within inches of my
mask, leaving us face to face. While having eye contact for an extended moment,
I had time to wonder what he was thinking, though I didn't come up with an
answer. Then, in a flash, he and his friend were on their way, leaving me
behind in amazement.
Another experience involved snorkelling with a sea turtle in
the shallows. The turtle was feeding on seaweed, and the ocean swell sloshed us
within a foot or two of each other. The turtle seemed unfazed by our close
proximity, but we were too close for my comfort. Events like these were
experiences of a lifetime that we entered into our Treasure Chest of travel memories.
Both on land and in the sea, we felt as though we were
living an earlier time in Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
Postscript
For more information about Charles Darwin and his voyage to
the Galapagos Islands, go to:
And for more information on his Theory of Evolution, go to:
Or for more information on the Archipelago itself, go to:
