Little Lolly's Small Adventures: Manta, Ecuador. Excursion: Jewels of South America: Galapagos & Machu Picchu

I didn't sleep very well last night - I was just too excited to sleep! I think I must have had about 2 hours sleep in all. My alarm clock went off at around 3:30 am but Paul was up earlier for arrival in Manta. For a few other guests and staff - it was also an early start. We were heading off on overland tours. Some people will be away for 3 or 4 days, the rest for about 7 days.

I had been asked, a few months ago, by the head of the Shore Excursions Department if I would like to be an escort for one of the overland tours to the Galapagos and Peru. They needed someone reliable to go. So I agreed and a copy of my passport and other details were sent to head office well in advance. So, that is how I managed to get on this wonderful tour.

Anyway ... We headed onto our waiting busses with a small farewell group of staff waving us off goodbye. For Paul it was a sad moment because we will be apart for a few days. It is a bit strange to be heading off without him, but that's the way things are.

During our 3½ hour journey to Guayaquil Airport our guide, Anja, gave a bit of a run down about Ecuador and the town of Manta as we passed through it. Once at the airport she guided us through check-in and until we when we went through security. We were then left to fend for ourselves and to hopefully catch the aeroplane. Anja also mentioned that guides would meet us on arrival at Baltra Airport; giving me a photograph of one of the guides to help me identify one of them.

Female trying to get away from an amorous male!

Fortunately nobody missed their flight time. Soon after I boarded our flight at Guayaquil Airport one of the Galapagos guides (Santiago), who turned out to be on the same flight as us, identified me from a photo Anja sent to him. He invited me to sit next to him in business class (the seat was empty and no extra cost involved). During the flight We went through the programme and what to expect. I briefly went through the aeroplane later, advising guests we did have one of our tour guide on board (some guests from Galapagos Island tour group had been worried so it reassured them and as to what would happen at the airport on landing.).

Baltra Airport was very small and easy enough to negotiate. We had to wait for our luggage though and watched as sniffer dogs (an Alsatian & Labrador - the “lab test”!) got to work, making their way through the line of bags. One guest’s luggage was sniffed out and was examined but all was fine and the guest was free to go.

Guides met us at the airport and helped us with our luggage onto local busses which took us a short drive to the ferry. Colour coded luggage tags helped to identify which tour group the bags belonged to (i.e. yellow or red).

It was interesting to see our colour coded bags loaded onto the roof of the ferry. Blimey, the ferry seemed to be creaking and groaning once it was all loaded onto the roof. It wasn't only our luggage though - other visitors and locals had bags and luggage. Sea lions slept near the gangway of the terminal, oblivious to humans wandering around.

It was a short ferry ride to Santa Cruz and our luggage was offloaded and loaded onto a small minibus through one of the back windows rather than in through the door. It was crazy but very funny. There are only 12 of us on this tour so there is plenty of room on the bus, which will be our designated bus for the next few days. One of the guests is very tall and the poor chap had to literally fold and cram his legs into the space between the seats.

During the drive from Santa Cruz to Rancho Primicias our guide for the duration of our stay in Galapagos, Juan, gave information about the islands, flora, fauna, and nature conservation; and much more as well as what we might expect to see during our stay. Juan seems to be a very friendly down to earth chap and I think it is going to help make our visit very special.

We had a nice 3 course lunch at Rancho Primicias with starters of either salad, soup or seafood; mains: a choice of fish or chicken; dessert: fruit, cocoa flan or chocolate cake. Fruit juice served throughout meal alongside a glass of sugarcane juice. Yum! Fortunately we were able to walk our lunch off as we went along some paths into the park to see the Galapagos tortoises.

We saw small to large tortoises, depending on their age. It's the mating season at the moment and one huge chap went after a much smaller female but she got away, much to his disappointment and and much to the delight of the guests! I'm beginning to think that this will be a fun group to be with. They are very lively with a wonderful sense of humour. We have already had lots to laugh about!

On the way to our hotel we stopped briefly to see a lava tunnel and, after a very short walk to one, we could go inside briefly if we wanted to. It was interesting to hear about how they are formed and to actually see them. It reminded me of our visit to much larger lava tunnels on Lanzarote.

We finally around just after 4 pm at the Galapagos Habitat Red Mangrove Hotel in Puerto Ayora where we were given a refreshing cold drink of mango juice. Andrea, the hotel manageress, welcomed us. Other members of the Akorn team (the tour team) introduced themselves and we were given a briefing about daily activities during our stay. During the briefing our luggage was automatically taken to our rooms so all the Andrea did was have to call out our names and give us the keys to our rooms, explaining where to go. It was still daylight and from the restaurant balcony we could look out onto the bay. There were a few iguanas hanging around too - a sight we will see more of over the next few days.

My room is near reception, very comfortable and clean. There are complimentary snacks and drinks in the fridge but once they are used and we want any more - they will be re-stocked at our own expense. Throughout out stay tea, coffee and water is freely available.

We had a bit of time before dinner to rest up or take a wander around town. I decided to take a wander, keeping to the road that follows the coastline. I didn't get very far - a fishing vessel was docked and a fisherman was gutting his fish. Pelicans and other birds were hoping for a morsel; and so I spent some time taking some photographs.

I was almost too tired to make it for dinner at 7 pm but I am glad I did. Everyone was still in good spirits as we ate on the wooden balcony of the restaurant overlooking the sea.

It is going to be a late night for me - I'm having an online chat with Paul (we have internet at the hotel!) and I also want to write up today's report. Unfortunately I left my laptop behind, still charging, on the ship so Paul has emailed me an electronic copy of an empty report sheet which I can pick up using my Galaxy Notepad.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Ferry to Santa Cruz