5:00 AM arrives very early. That’s when we had to put out bags out to be collected for the flight to the islands. That’s also when breakfast was served. After breakfast, we had to collect our paperwork and boarding passes for the flight out. After a short bus ride to the airport, we boarded our plane, an Embrear 190, for the 600 mile flight over the Pacific.

 

We landed on Baltra Island. A short bus ride to the dock, then we boarded our zodiacs for the ride to the ship. I got to my stateroom and found a bottle of Champagne waiting for me. After a nice buffet lunch, there was a short presentation by the chief naturalist about what we would be doing in the afternoon. We had some time to unpack our bags, then was the safety drill. The general alarm was sounded, so we all donned our lifejackets and headed to our lifeboats. While we were eating the boat was sailing to our first island, North Seymour.

 

Our first excursion started at 4:30. A zodiac ride along a sandy beach with Galapagos sea lions, and the some cliffs showing the rock formations. We then headed to shore for a short hike.