Day 40: Giant Land Toirtous' (Quito to Galapagos Islands)

3/4/2017

This morning we left our hotel in Quito to fly to the Galapagos! Unfortunately our plane was an hour late so we hung out at the airport for three hours. Ironically, we booked Tame airlines because Avianca is known to be late. But no, Tame was late and Avianca was on time. Anyways, we finally made it to the Galapagos. A tour guide from the hotel met us at the airport and escorted us all the way to the hotel. Which was nice because we had to take a bus, then a ferry, then a car, then a boat, and then walk there; it was quite complicated.

On the way, we stopped for lunch and a tour at the Giant Land Toirtous Reserve. Lunch was delicious and served by the restaurant on site. The reserve is privately owned, but focuses on the land Toirtous' there because they were there first and there is such an abundance of them. At one spot where I was standing, I could count 17 of them! They ranged from young teenagers to old adults over 120 years old.

After the Toirtous Reserve we finished our journey to the Finch Bay Hotel and got checked in. For the rest of the evening we relaxed at the hotel. We went for a quick dip in the ocean which is so warm! Like cool bath water, I was amazed. Then a dip in the pool after which is even warmer! Like warm bath water. Afterwards we showered and got settled into our room. I unpacked for the first time in six weeks! It felt so nice, but man my clothes are wrinkled from my pack. Then we had dinner which was amazing. A full four course meal which featured a delicious tuna tonight. Now it's off to bed to prepare for our first full day tour tomorrow!

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