{"id":10185,"date":"2018-06-17T19:35:08","date_gmt":"2018-06-17T19:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.localdreamers.org\/?p=10185"},"modified":"2018-08-07T17:53:27","modified_gmt":"2018-08-07T17:53:27","slug":"livin-la-vida-local-galapagos-backpackers-dagboek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.localdreamers.org\/nl\/news-nl\/livin-la-vida-local-galapagos-backpackers-dagboek\/","title":{"rendered":"Livin’ la vida Local: Galapagos Backpackers Dagboek – deel 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

In deze maandelijkse column schrijft projectco\u00f6rdinator Megan van der Moezel over haar ervaringen in Quito. Livin\u2019 la vida Local: een beginnershandleiding met een humoristische ondertoon over dit fascinerende\u00a0land. Deze maand een column over Ecuador’s fascinerende Galapagos eilanden.<\/h3>\n

Door Megan van der Moezel<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 5: Tunnel vision<\/h3>\n

Everybody I interrogated about their Galapagos experiences, echoed one must-do tour. Snorkeling at Los Tuneles<\/em>. I feel obligated to add one side note to that advice. Word has gotten out on these lava tunnels. This means two things. First: you will likely have to book at least a day or two in advance. And second: you will have to pay for the privilege. Even after some skillful negotiating, I had to cough up a staggering $125 for the half-day trip. Whether it\u2019s worth it? Depends on your expectations. I didn\u2019t see half the number of sea turtles, manta rays and sharks that my family reported spotting in December. But there\u2019s no denying the landscape is awesome. Only wish I hadn\u2019t left my camera at the hotel. Thanks to our helpful guide Alexis, I still got my classic Tuneles tourist pic though. Cheers mate!<\/p>\n

Day 6: Lost and stolen items<\/h3>\n

A very early start this morning. Had a 6am boat to Santa Cruz, followed by one to San Cristobal at 2pm. Found an agency at\u00a0 Las Fregatas y Antonio Gil selling inter-island tickets for $25 instead of the usual $30 yesterday. Apparently, they can even be obtained for $20 if you book early. The\u00a0lancha<\/em> \u2018Neptune\u2019 that will take you for that price, is not exactly the most reputable however. Smaller size and bigger odds of sinking, as far as I understood.<\/p>\n

Was allowed to freshen up and leave my bags at my old hotel Estrella de Mar<\/a> (no kitchen, but such sweet people!) on Santa Cruz. Headed to my favourite Galapagos coffee shop De Sal y Dulce<\/a> for an amazing brownie, before hopping on a bus to Santa Rosa. Peddled down to Rancho Primiciasis from there, for another dose of giant tortoises.<\/p>\n

Personally, I preferred the camino de las tortugas<\/em> on Isabela. The ranch vaguely reminded me of a petting zoo. Pay a $5 entrance fee and wonder around in a barbed-wired area surrounded by cute animals. You\u2019ll probably love it none the less if it\u2019s your first turtle-related stop on the Galapagos. But be warned. Getting back to Santa Rosa by bike is hell on a stick. Barely made it back in time to Puerto Ayora to catch my boat. No wonder I ended up accidentally stealing the bike lock and forgetting my mp3 player and glasses in the hotel. It\u2019s like the Havaianas all over again.<\/p>\n

Day 7: San Cristobal treats<\/h3>\n

The findings of the day? Well, the 360 tour around San Cristobal was definitely worth it. Nice beaches, great snorkeling \u2013 especially around leon dormido \u2013 and beautiful landscapes on the way. On the downside, I ended up dearly rueing the day I decided not to buy another pair of flipflops. At 7.30s departure my sneakers had been in near perfect health. After a full day of braving lava rocks, sandy beaches and sea water, they were hardly recognizable anymore.<\/p>\n

So, after a nice hot shower, I squeezed my feet into the soaking steppers once more to go out and sell my principles for the comfort of having sandalias<\/em>. It wasn\u2019t until the 10th<\/sup> shop \u2013 all called Evoluci\u00f3n, of course \u2013 that I found a pair under $15. \u00a0Had to struggle to keep my haggler\u2019s pokerface intact when the vendor named her price. $8! Victoire! Bye bye soaking allstars! Me and my brand-new flipflops are going to my number 1 Galapa-sushi joint\u00a0<\/a>to celebrate!<\/p>\n

Day 8 \u2013 Los Lobos<\/h3>\n

When in San Cristobal, there is one thing you cannot miss out on. And – oh happy day – it so happens to be something you can do for free! Chilling with sealions. So that\u2019s what I did today. At la Lober\u00eda<\/em> in the morning, and on Punta Carolina<\/em> beach in the afternoon and at sunset. In between, I even swam around with a couple of them while snorkeling at muelle Tijeretas<\/em>. Sealion related bucket list items: check, check, double check!<\/p>\n

Day 9: Bye bye birdie<\/h3>\n

Woke up a bit sad today. It\u2019s my last full day on Galapagos. Luckily the \u2018end-of-the-holiday\u2019 blues was quickly chased away thanks to a new breakfast buddy. A chubby black Darwin Finch, whom I dubbed \u2018Charles\u2019. He hopped right onto my table as soon as the waitress put down my plates. After sizing me up a second or two, Charles boldly settled himself on the edge of my fruit bowl and proceeded to eat away at my muesli. Made me laugh. Especially when he territorially chased away another, smaller, finch looking to join the feast.<\/p>\n

Cheered up by Charles, I was ready for my last trip on San Cristobal. A visit to our partner project<\/a> in the highlands. Quito is a great place to work, but I can\u2019t deny having felt a sting of jealousy when I laid eyes on the beautiful environment volunteers get to work in here. They usually visit the Galapaguera hatching center once during their stay to feed the tortoises as well. I didn\u2019t have the time, unfortunately, but with all the turtles I\u2019ve seen over the past week I really can\u2019t complain.<\/p>\n

In the afternoon, I watched the island slowly fading in the distance from my lancha with the sun on my face. It felt like the perfect ending to my trip. That, and watching the receptionist at my Santa Cruz hotel pull my glasses and mp3 player out of a desk drawer. All\u2019s well that ends well. Hurray!<\/p>\n

\"snorkeling\"landscape<\/p>\n

\"La<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Local Dreamers, Galapagos eilanden bezoeken bij vrijwilligerswerk in Ecuador<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In deze maandelijkse column schrijft projectco\u00f6rdinator Megan van der Moezel over haar ervaringen in Quito. Livin\u2019 la vida Local: een beginnershandleiding met een humoristische ondertoon over dit fascinerende\u00a0land. Deze maand een column over Ecuador’s fascinerende Galapagos eilanden. Door Megan van der Moezel Day 5: Tunnel vision Everybody I interrogated about their Galapagos experiences, echoed one… <\/p>\n

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