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 When we weren't diving or eating we were kept busy doing very interesting land visits on the different islands of the Galapágos. There is so much to explore you don't know where to look next.
Our first visit was at North Seymour that is inhabited by lots of sea lions with pups and marine iguanas.
The second visit was at Rabida island. We landed on a red sand beach. One thing that stands out in the Galapágos is that every island is totally different. Some have red sand, some are volcanic black lava and some are your regular brown sand, depending on the geological formation of the islands.
Our third landing was at James Bay where we saw marine iguanas all over the place, american oyster catchers (with cute red beaks) and again more sea lions and the slightly larger fur seals who were playing about in the water pools.
 The fourth visit was at the beach of Bartholome to spot and go snorkeling with the penguins. We saw only two penguins unfortunately but they were extremely cute! The second landing at Bartholome took us to the highest point of the island to see the famous vista of the lagoon. Bartholome is the youngest island in the Galapágos and dates from 1.5 million years ago. We saw a few marine iguanas, sea lions and plenty of tourists! This is the spot where all the cruise boats visit.
We enjoyed our last dinner aboard on the Reina Silvia by feasting on lobster and watched the video filmed and edited by our never tiring guide Victor.
On our last day (when we couldn't dive due to de-saturation requirements before flying) we had a glorious time on Santa Cruz. We first visited the Charles Darwin Research Station to find out about the geology of the different islands and the work this institute has done to educate tourist on the importance of preserving these islands for future generations.
 We continued on to the Tortoise Sanctuary where the different species of the giant land tortoises are given room and protection to grow until they are large enough to be allowed to roam freely around the islands. The giant tortoise was almost entirely extinct a few years ago until the government ordered the last ones (that were mostly kept as pets) to be handed over to the Darwin Foundation so that they could be preserved as a species. It takes about 40 years for a tortoise to grow large enough to fend for itself.
In the afternoon we took the long but interesting bus ride to the highlands for a walking safari to spot the Giant Tortoises in the wild. We saw several and it was a very interesting, sometimes muddy excursion.
The day ended with a wonderful dinner at a remote restaurant in the highlands where we met the legendary Rolf D. and his family. It was a very entertaining and above all interesting evening listening to stories about the Galapágos in the old days, when only a few hundred people lived on the islands.
Then it was back to the Reina Silvia for our last night aboard. What a great trip it was!
Many international airlines fly to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. From America it is American and Continental Airlines that fly directly from Houston and Miami. TAME is the Ecuadorian airlines that takes you from either Quito or Guayaquil (the second largest city in Ecuador) to Baltra, the main airport and gateway into the Galapágos. The flight takes about 1.5 hrs. Make sure you get a window seat as the aerial vistas of the islands are certainly worth it. TAME has three flights a day.
You will need to arrive in Quito or Guayaquil the night before your departure to the Galapágos as you will leave at around 9 am the next morning. The Reina Silvia can organize the flight from Quito to Galapágos and accommodation in Quito for you as well so don't hesitate to ask them. They will suggest you stay at the Hilton Colon which is a very pleasant, five star hotel close to the airport.
 Make sure you bring enough cash. You will need it for the park entry fee at the airport (US$100 /person), to tip the wonderful crew of the Reina Silvia and when you leave Ecuador there is a US$25 cash airport tax to be paid at the airport. The currency of Ecuador is US dollars and there are ATM machines at the airport and in Puerto Ayora.
Bring some sturdy shoes (TEVA's are very practical) for the land excursions of which some of them are "wet" landings. A dry-bag to carry your camera equipment in is also pretty useful. Don't forget to bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen with a high SF factor as the sun is quite fierce in the Galapágos. And most important of all, do not forget your camera as photo opportunities are plentiful.
For the diving make sure you bring some thick gloves. There is a lot of current at some dive sites and you will need to hold on to rocks. The Galapágos Islands are one of the few dive destinations in the world where wearing gloves is actually encouraged! Also bring a safety sausage and a whistle as the current can sometimes take you away from the dive sites and this will make it easier for the crew to spot you when you surface.
The sea can be rough and the Reina Silvia rocky so it is absolutely crucial you bring (and take!) motion-sickness tablets if you have the slightest suspicion you might be affected by it.
Please contact Dive Global for more information on the Reina Silvia.
 
Galapágos is usually considered to be a region of cold waters, despite its equatorial position. The water temperature may range from 17 - 27 C depending on the cold season (May to December) or the warm season (December to May). The waters are usually clear during the cold season although the ocean surface can be very agitated in August and September. The warm season can bring rather murky waters depending on the dive site. Most divers make due with a 5 mm wetsuit. I was more comfortable in a 7mm with hood.
Reina Silvia Web site...
Galapágos Chamber of Tourism
Galapágospark.com
Galapágos.org
Darwin Foundation
Voyage of the Beagle
Marine Life of the Galapágos, Pierre Constant | Buy
Galapágos Marine Invertebrates: Taxonomy, Biogeography, and Evolution in Darwin's Islands, Matthew J. James | Buy
To get more information on the Reina Silvia, contact Charlotte @ Dive Global
or visit the Reina Silvia Web site...
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