The best way to explain the stunning beauty of San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos is to show it to you. Even the best cameras remain unable to capture the isle as well as my memory has, but who would I be if I didn’t try? Below is a visual timeline of my journey across San Cristobal, from an early arrival on Day 1 to my late afternoon departure on day 6.
Les juro que todo fue tranquilo en las islas encantadas.
Days 1 & 2
Arrival & Exploration
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The first two days of my trip I spent on the mainland, exploring all of the beaches and seemingly endless paths I could find. I got my fill of Las Tijeretas and the crazy-looking birds always circling around.
Days 3 & 4
Sea Lions On and Off Land
It was time to go beyond Las Tijeretas and the nearby beaches, so on day 3 I headed to La Loberia, a secluded beach on San Cristobal whose name translates roughly as “the place of the sea lions.” And boy, does that promise hold up. I spent an entire day here, and in the morning I had it all to myself. By the afternoon, I was easily able to catch a truck/taxi into town, along with a bunch of new friends.
Both of these days of my trip were spent on & in the water, wandering the far end of the island. I spent Day 4 on a boat tour out to the famous landmarks of San Cristobal, snorkeling with sharks and peeing in the ocean. Yes, those two are related. Kicker Rock can be terrifying, in the shadows… but don’t let that scare you off from a very good time.
Day 5
Overland Sites
It’s difficult to overstress how gorgeous this island is. It’s known to locals as the quieter island, one of the safest places in the word, and a sea lion haven. If they had a mascot, it would undeniably be a sea lion, un lobo marino. So after 4 days of ocean life, I spent my last full day on a taxi tour of the island’s biggest sites: El Junco, a gorgeous secluded beach, and La Galapaguera.
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I went on a half-day tour by truck, alone, with my driver acting as my guide in each locale. He grew up on the island, and was able to introduce me to important people and animals and facts on each stop. His name was Max, too. At the end of the tour, he even stopped the truck just before we arrive back at my guest house. He put his truck in park, and then quickly hopped out to pluck a guava off a tree. He explain that it’s good luck to eat a guava on the island, that it means you’ll come back. So I plan to.
On my last morning, just before my flight, I actually met a guy from Guayaquil who went snorkeling with me, in a last-minute trip to Las Tijeretas. I was scared to go alone, so he agreed to accompany me. We dove in to watch turtles, fish, and coral life from above & below. But my best memories are still the ones I have of exploring on my own, savoring moments with nature that I could never find anywhere else.
Eating Ecuadorian chocolate on the beach on my last day in San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands.
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Have you ever spontaneously taken a long weekend somewhere? How did it turn out for you?
