![\"Galapagos](\"https:\/\/cragkungfu.com\/cragginwagon\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/galapagos-map.jpg\")
<\/a>We flew out of Quito and were greeted by a wonderful view of the Andes with Quito in the background from the plane. As we landed on the islands we could already see signs of the active volcanism of the region.<\/p>\n
We were to float around these splendid islands for the next 7 days aboard the luxurious Treasure of the Galapagos. Nice digs! I celebrated by promptly executing a beard flip of the second story much to the amusement of the other guests on board.<\/p>\n Before setting sail we toured some of the spots on Santa Cruz including the Charles Darwin Research Station.<\/p>\n We couldn’t even walk between the boat and\u00a0the research center without bumping into Galapagos Sea Lions and countless Marine and Land Iguanas.<\/p>\n We also got our first glimpse of the famous Galapagos Giant Tortoises!<\/p>\n The next day we would get to see them in wild on a muddy hike in a forest with some meadows. After that we checked out a massive lava tube. It was so big it looked like a subway tunnel.<\/p>\n There are a variety of\u00a0beaches on the islands ranging from the whitest sand beaches you can see anywhere, black volcanic sand, and even red beaches which you’ll see later in the photos.<\/p>\n Back on the boat you simply have to look over the side to see Sea Turtles swim buy and giant pelicans would post up right next to us to do some fishing.<\/p>\n Next we motored over some choppy waters to Isabella, the largest of the islands. We boated along the coast and walked across the lava fields. We even spotted some of the famous Blue Footed Boobies – and come on, who doesn’t like boobies?!<\/p>\n Next we did some snorkeling. We would end up snorkeling many times during the trip. While the water wasn’t always the clearest, having penguins zip by and sea lions try to play with us certainly made up for it!\u00a0We saw other swimming birds, sharks, sting rays, manta rays, eagle rays, and countless tropical fish. Oh, and did I mention the enormous sea turtles? Check out the video:<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>