Ecuador Photos

Sally Lightfoot Crab

The Sally Lightfoot Crab is one of the many charismatic species that inhabits the Galápagos Islands, and is often seen in photos of the archipelago, sometimes sharing the seaside rocks with the marine iguanas...They were sighted by Charles Darwin during his voyages on HMS Beagle, and also by the first comprehensive study of the fauna of the Gulf of California, carried out by Ed Ricketts, together with John Steinbeck and others.

Galapagos Tortoise

The Galápagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise (Geochelone nigra) is the largest living tortoise, native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.2 meters (4 ft) long. They are long-lived, with a life expectancy in the wild estimated to be 100–150 years. Populations have fallen dramatically due to hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the seventeenth century. Now only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild.

Blue-Footed Booby

The Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) is a bird in the Sulidae family which comprises ten species of long-winged seabirds. The natural breeding habitat of the Blue-footed Booby is tropical and subtropical islands off the Pacific Ocean, most famously, the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
Wikipedia

Galapagos Mockingbird

The Galápagos Mockingbird (Nesomimus parvulus) is a species of bird in the Mimidae family. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
Wikipedia

Galapagos Penguin

The Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is a penguin endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It is the only penguin to live on the equator and can survive due to the cool temperatures resulting from the Humboldt Current and cool waters from great depths brought up by the Cromwell Current. Its nearest relatives are the African Penguin, the Magellanic Penguin and the Humboldt Penguin. The Galápagos Penguin occurs primarily on Fernandina Island and the west coast of Isabela Island, but small populations are scattered on other islands in the Galápagos archipelago.

Galapagos Sea Lion

The Galápagos Sea Lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) is a species of sea lion that exclusively breeds on the Galápagos Islands and – in smaller numbers – on Isla de la Plata (to Ecuador). Being fairly social, and one of the most numerous species in the Galápagos archipelago, they are often spotted sun-bathing on sandy shores or rock groups or gliding gracefully through the surf. Their loud “bark”, playful nature, and graceful agility in water make them the “welcoming party” of the islands.
Wikipedia

Nazca  Booby

The Nazca Booby, Sula granti, is a booby which is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean, namely on the Galápagos Islands where it can be seen by eco-tourists, and on Clipperton Island.
Wikipedia

Punta Suarez Blow hole

Española Island is part of the Galápagos Islands....Two spots are especially popular with visitors: Bahía Gardner, which has a lovely beach; and Punta Suárez, of interest because of its varied bird-life. This island has its own species of animals, such as the Española Mockingbird, which has a longer and more curved beak than the one on the central islands; the Española lava lizard; the Marine Iguana, which has red markings on its back; among others. Here there are also boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls and other tropical birds.
Wikipedia

Punta Suarez with Mockingbird

Galapagos visitors have strict instructions not to give animals food or water. Here, a mockingbird is hopeful that Steve will succumb.

Red Footed Booby

Red-Footed Boobies (Sula sula)
The Red-Footed Booby is the smallest of the booby species and arguably the weirdest. Its bright lipstick-colored feet are attached to a body of rather dull white with pale brown wings. Red Footed Boobies are fish eaters and feed almost exclusively far off shore in the open ocean, often around the submerged bajos or submarine volcanoes where upwelling currents cause a bloom of algae and of fish that feed on them. The tree-nesting species live almost exclusively in the infrequently visited islands of Genovesa, North Seymour, and Wolf.

Bartolome Island

Bartolomé Island (Spanish: Isla Bartolomé) is a volcanic islet in the Galápagos Islands group. It is a volcanic islet just off the east coast of Santiago Island. It is one of the "younger" islands in the Galápagos archipelago. This island, and Sulivan Bay on Santiago island, are named after naturalist and life-long friend of Charles Darwin, Sir Bartholomew James Sulivan, who was a Lieutenant aboard HMS Beagle.
Wikipedia

Bartolome Island

Bartolome Island is one of the "younger" islands in the Galapagos archipelago.
Wikipedia

M/V Eclipse Route Map

The Galapagos Eclipse is a 210-ft long passenger ship and commenced its cruises in 1999. The yacht M/V Eclipse accommodates up to 48 passengers in 27 cabins, half the number of passengers of vessels its size in the Galapagos. The Eclipse is accepting individual cruise reservations and is also available for private charter.
Very comfortable and attractive, with sober decoration, rich paneling, and furnishings in Seike, writing desks, large closets, ocean view windows, or portholes, the Eclipse's cabins and staterooms are among the largest of any vessel in the Galapagos. Its suites are located on the highest boat deck and have convertible sofa-beds and a bathtub. Staterooms include a guest chair and have either one queen-sized or two twin sized beds. Doubles and singles are located on the main deck and have either two-twin or queen bed arrangements.

Elizabeth Bay Galapagos

Barbara on Zodiac in Elizabeth Bay, 2004
.A panga ride brings us to a protected mangrove lagoon, where sea lions sleep in trees (tree lions). Sea turtles and manta rays surface in the quiet waters while Galapagos hawks circle overhead. Outside the lagoon sit three islets known as Las Marielas, home to the largest concentration of Galapagos penguins on the islands.

Galapagos Fur Seal

The Galápagos fur seal is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, like most species found there, meaning they cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The Galápagos are a chain of islands found approximately 972 kilometers west of Ecuador. The seals live on the rocky shores of the islands which tend to be on the west side of the islands, leaving only to feed. These seals do not migrate and remain near the islands their entire lives, which averages at about 20 years.
Wikipedia

Genovesa Frigatebird

Frigatebirds (Fregata minor)
The largest and most notable birds on the islands are the cleptoparasitic great and magnificent frigate birds. Males boast an inflatable red pouch below the beak during mating season—sure to catch the eye of any female. Crowning its attributes, a frigate's wingspan can reach 2.3m, giving it the largest wingspan-to-weight ratio of any existing bird. Mating occurs on San Cristobal and Genovesa from March to April and on North Seymour throughout the year.

Ecuador Photos

All of these photos were taken by Steve Bartolomeo, our web designer!, on our 2004 trip to the Galapagos and Cabanas San Isidro!

We highly recommend the M/V Eclipse and Cabanas San Isidro, and so do our clients!

 

JB Journeys will customize your Ecuador vacation to include birding tours, culinary tours,shopping for treasures, hiking, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, spa indulgences and natural history tours.

 

We will take you to tropical rain forests, secluded romantic getaways, off the beaten path eco lodges, the Galapagos, verdant mountains, boutique hotels, jungles and gourmet restaurants.

 

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