Sunday, 9/19/2021: Today we flew from Quito, Ecuador to join the ship in Baltra Island in the Galapagos! We started the morning with breakfast and a COVID antigen test and health screening followed by a quick ride to the airport for a 2-hour charter flight to the Galapagos.
After passing through the entry formalities (all of checked & carry-on luggage was fumigated prior to landing), we took a short 5-minute bus ride to the pier (where sea lions were sleeping on the benches). At the pier we donned our life jackets, boarded an inflatable zodiac boat and proceeded to make the 10-minute journey to our waiting ship.
The crew welcomed us aboard with champagne and music (there are 40 passengers this trip and 85 crewmembers including 2 medical doctors & 8 Naturalists). At this point we were informed that masks (for passengers) were not required aboard ship and then we were shown to our cabin.
After lunch and the mandatory safety briefing, we went down to the “marina deck” to be outfitted for wet suits, snorkel, masks and fins to be used on the various beach and deep-water snorkel sites on the trip. We had dinner with our new friends we met on the Quito city tour, and then turned in for the night.
It’s hard to believe we are finally here in the Galapagos!
