A college reference here: Afternoon Day 4 of an 8-Day Galapagos cruise tour is like the first day of your Sophomore Year. Newcomers have just arrived on the cruise ship, a young inexperienced crowd still “ah-ing“ at pelicans or speaking naively about hoping to see a Blue-footed Booby. “I heard you can swim with sharks…”, says a particularly timid chap, evidencing utter fear… as you eavesdrop, you can’t help but snicker: “they don’t know what they’re in for!”
Galapagos Flycatcher
The dry landing site that follows a delectable buffet lunch, which by now you are completely used to, feels like a fresh “new beginning”… A sweet-scented Palo Santo forest, a land iguana community and a placid pond with a new set of animals —“new” even for those of us continuing on our Galapagos cruise adventure— are in store. Stilts and pintail ducks, several species of Darwin’s finches and the ever-so-friendly Galapagos Flycatcher are quickly ticked off our checklists. We get to see them up close and personal. The most exciting sighting is precisely that of the flycatcher, a curious little fellow that could easily compete in a stare-down contest.
The views are beautiful on the water, you’re hiking and chatting away with some of the new Galapagos cruise guests, bragging a little, of course, and telling them all of the fabulous encounters you’ve had since you stepped onto the boat… the visit has been somewhat tame in comparison to previous adventures, but as you look on in the distance, you notice the giant iguana’s back… no… not a real life animal… a mountain. The largest iguana on the archipelago. Spectacular Dragon Hill.
