American Spirit II - Day 53; Charles Darwin Breeding Center & Summary of M/V Fragata 5 Day, 4 Night Cruise; Tuesday, February 25, 2014

At 8:00 AM we met our guide on the public dock and walked to the Charles Darwin Breeding Center. Once there we observed giant Tortoises and Land Iguana's; and the home of 'Lonesome George' before he died. George was the last of his species from Pita Island.

In the course of our 5 day, 4 night trip we visited 7 different islands: Baltra Island; Mosquera Island; Vincente Roca Point on Isabella Island; Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island; Urbina Bay on Isabella Island; Tagus Cove on Isabella Island; Egas Port on Santiago Island; Sombrero Chino Island; and finished at Santa Cruz Island, where our boats are anchored.

The highlights of the cruise include swimming with: Sea Lions, Green Turtles, Penguins, a Manta Ray, Flightless Cormorants, Marine Iguana's, Sting Rays and White-Tipped Sharks. On almost every snorkeling trip we swam with large green sea turtles. Snorkeling in the Galapagos in the rarely visited islands we went to is the underwater equivalent of an African land safari. I know. I've been on safari in Africa.

Jobs for the day include fueling the boat; printing airline tickets for Darlene and Janet, both of whom are flying home tomorrow; and attending an optional Rally dinner tonight.

Brian Fox