Land Cruisers

Spotting the people who have just arrived in the Galapagos islands isn’t difficult.

They stop to photograph everything. No animal, vista or scrap of vegetation escapes the lens; which is hardly surprising really as almost all the creatures here are remarkable, every landscape a winner and even the flora seems other worldly.

Whimbrel eyeing up his dinner

After a couple of days the mania wears off though. You get used to sharing a bench with a snoozing sea-lion, you take it for granted that the sun setting over the hillside will be amazing and you convince yourself that those cactus trees you’ve never seen anywhere else are just fancy plants. 

Have a seat sir, take the weight off your flippers

So instead of reaching for the camera every 2 minutes you realise it’s better to just sit back and soak it all in. Generally with a big smile on your face.  

Blue footed booby. Can't imagine how he got his name

When budgeting for the trip we changed our minds about visiting these islands twenty times. It can be very expensive to come here. Like, thousands and thousands of pounds expensive, especially if you sign up for one of the cruises that hop from island to island. Which of course is way too pricey for us.

Pink marine iguana taking it easy

Endemic to the Galapagos its the world's only swimming lizard

We had just about given up hope when I read on one of the travel forums about a way to visit on a shoestring (well, a relative shoestring, no-one reaches here for pennies). Basically, once you've taken a hit on the flights from mainland Ecuador you ditch the boat idea and opt for a land-based gig staying at backpacker hostels and B&B's. 

Brown pelican, another animal endemic to the islands

This actually works much better for me as I used to get seasick watching The Onedin Line (younger readers will have to google this cultural reference). The hostels are no more expensive than in Quito or Guayaquil and there's loads to see and do on land. So we're really chuffed.

Galapagos mockingbird. We named this one Atticus

Pretty flamingoes. Not endemic but suitably weird 

We have just spent five days on Santa Cruz island which was incredible and are now on Isabella island for five more. By the time we come to leave I fully expect to have run out of superlatives.