Something our guests love about Aventura Lodge is how close it puts them to nature. The dining deck is right on the water and you can almost always see sea lions, marine iguanas and sally lightfoot crabs on the deck.

The deck is especially inviting at breakfast.

Aventura Lodge is located on Santa Cruz Island, in the principal town of Puerto Ayora.

Some of the Animals of Aventura Lodge

What animal(s) do you want to see at the Aventura Lodge?

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Hernan Rodas

Giant tortoises are often seen as the unofficial mascot for the Galapagos Islands. They are an amazing animal. Their huge size and the way they move is captivating.

Capturing their true nature in a picture or video is very difficult. Standing near and really observing a giant tortoise up close and personal is something very special.

The Galapagos giant tortoise will not try to get away from you, he will slowly turn his wise face toward you and look you in the eye.

Why Giant Tortoises Need Help

Lonesome George often comes to mind when we think of the Galapagos giant tortoise. George’s story is a sad reminder of what can happen when humans don’t show proper care when dealing with wildlife.

It’s also a reminder of why the giant tortoise breeding program is so important for tortoises on the Galapagos Islands.

The population of giant tortoises was in decline because of the harmful practices of pirates and whalers. Both groups hunted these giants for their meat and oil. They were stored on ships as a source of fresh meat because of their ability to live for long periods of time without food or water.

Introduced species have also been a big problem.

When goats were introduced to the Galapagos Islands they reproduced very quickly and ate large amounts of low-lying food. The tortoises could no longer find enough food within their reach and the population suffered.

Problems like these led to George being the last of his kind, that’s why he was called “Lonesome.” When he died on June 24, 2012 a subspecies of giant tortoise was lost.

Good News and a Bright Future

The goat population has been brought under control and there is strict management of introduced species on the Galapagos Islands. It is now against the law to kill a giant tortoise. The breeding program has been underway since the late 1960′s and has been very successful.

The tortoise eggs are gathered from the wild and brought to one of the breeding stations. They are cared for and protected until they are big enough to be released into the wild. We visited 2 breeding stations, one at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island, and another at the Puerto Villamil breeding station on Isabela Island.

The hatching season for Galapagos giant tortoises runs from December through April. The very young tortoises are kept off the ground, in mesh cages, to protect them from predators. The juveniles are kept in large enclosures on the ground where you can get a good look at them.

The sign reads: Newborn tortoises are kept in these terrariums for the first two years of life, to protect them from possible predators such as rats. Then they move to the adaptation pen, where they will stay until the curvature of their shells grows to 20-25 cm long, which means an age of approximately 4 to 6 years. To avoid mistakes, tortoises are marked with color-coded paint to show their island of origin and each individual is numbered.

The young giant tortoises are very cute and move much faster than the adults. It’s fun to watch them scurry around, climbing and tumbling over each other.

In the future the breeding program may no longer be needed because the numbers of tortoises in the wild are rising. This is very good news, but also means that seeing all those babies in one place may no longer be possible in years to come.

Have you seen baby tortoises? What was it like? Please share your thoughts by commenting on this post.

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Dena Haines

This post is part of our new series of Ecuador side trips. Today, we are talking about the Ingapirca excursion.

Ecuador is a beautiful country with an interesting history and a colorful culture. On our trip to Ingapirca we saw some of both.

An Andean Road Trip

We drove from Cuenca in the province of Azuay to the province of Azogues. We passed through towns like Biblián and Cañar on our way to Ingapirca. The landscape was beautiful! We saw mountains, rivers, valleys and rolling hills. The drive is just over an hour.

As we drove through the towns our guide explained interesting facts about the towns and the customs of the local people. We saw many people dressed in their cultural skirts, blouses and hats. As the guide explained some of the customs related to the clothing, we found it fascinating and couldn’t stop asking questions.

We learned that for the Cañari people their hats signify whether they are single or married. If married the pom-poms are worn in the back, if single they are worn in the front. We were also told that only the Cañari people can wear these hats. People from other cultures are not permitted to wear them unless it’s for a special dance or event.

A painting of a young Cañari woman and (possibly) her sister

The bright colors seen in their cultural dress can represent the colors of the rainbow. In the past, the local people worshiped the rainbow and incorporated it into their clothing.

In the town of Biblián, we were taken to a look-off point near a large stone church. The church is built into the side of the mountain and overlooks the entire town.

Ingapirca

Ingapirca is the name of a town and of the Inca ruins found there.

When we arrived, we saw llamas near the gift shop/registration center. We also saw the Inca ruins and it’s many stone foundations spread out on the sloping field. The first people to build on this spot were the Cañari and then the Inca.

One of the first things we learned about was a beautiful plant: Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmanisa Sanguinea). The guide explained that the Cañari and Inca people used the flowers from the plant as a hallucinogen in their worship and medical practices.

As we walked through the ruins, the guide explained about the culture and customs of the Cañari and Inca people.

We also saw the difference in the Cañari and Inca building styles. Although they used the same type of stone, the Cañari didn’t cut and polish it in the same way. The Cañari also used a type of mortar to join the stones. The Inca cut and polished the stones with such precision that they fit together without the need for mortar.

The Cañari style

The Inca style

The stones were cut and placed in a special way to ensure that in case of an earthquake they could absorb the tremors and the building would remain standing.

I loved seeing the color and texture of the stones.

A Traditional Lunch

After touring Ingapirca, we were looking forward to getting some lunch and warming up a bit. It was chilly exploring the ruins.

We went to a nice restaurant about a three minute drive from the ruins. The restaurant was in a traditional adobe home. We sat by a crackling fire and enjoyed some local food. It was cozy and the food was delicious.

It was an amazing trip and we learned a lot.

Have you been to Ingapirca? Please tell us what you thought by commenting on this post.

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Dena Haines

A Galapagos family vacation is the trip your family won’t forget. It will be talked about at family meals and get-togethers for years to come – long after your kids grow up and leave home.

We know how important family travel is. And we want you to be able to come and experience the Islands as a family.

New Family Discount: Children Travel For Half Price

We are happy to announce that children 9 years of age (and under) will now receive a 50% discount!

Why are we offering this discount? We feel that the Galapagos Islands should be enjoyed by everyone, especially young families.

Not sure which destination to choose? Here is a comparison post: Disney or Galapagos Islands?

The only stipulation is that children receiving the discount, must stay in a room with an adult paying regular rates.

Help Your Kids Learn About the Galapagos Islands

Your young children will enjoy reading about the Islands from the perspective of a child in our Galapagos for Kids series, written by 12 year old Canadian expat, Drew Haines.

If your kids like to color, be sure to check out our Galapagos Coloring Pages series.

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Hernan Rodas

This new post is part of our new series of Ecuador side trips. Today, we are talking about Ingapirca – the largest known Inca ruins in Ecuador.

What Does Ingapirca Mean?

Ingapirca is a Kichwa word meaning ”Inca wall”. The name applies to the inca ruins and also to the small town where they are located.

Ingapirca is located in Cañar Province, Ecuador – just over an hour north of the city of Cuenca, in the Andes Mountains. The ruins are at an elevation of 10,200 feet (3100 meters).

Ingapirca Travel Tip

At such a high elevation, it can be cold there. And the weather can change quickly. Be sure to bring a sweater or warm jacket.

What Can You See At Ingapirca?

The site has been restored, and the grounds are well groomed. Most of the ruins are just that – foundations of buildings and homes. When the Spanish armies invaded Ecuador, they tore down the complex at Ingapirca. During recent excavations, the ruins were uncovered and restored.

The tour guide brings this site to life, explaining the history of Ecuador’s indigenous people, and the invading Inca and Spanish armies. You’ll learn about their customs, culture and daily life.

The original freestanding house at Ingapirca

Landscape view at Ingapirca

In addition to the ruins, there is a functioning museum that displays artifacts found during the restoration.

Museum, ticket booth, interpretation center and llama enclosure at the Ingapirca Complex.

Can I See Llamas?

Yes, but they aren’t running loose anymore. There is a llama enclosure (see above photo) that you’ll walk by as you enter the complex. While they used to be free to roam, they were actually damaging the ruins. Recently, they were contained in order to protect the archaeological site.

While Ingapirca isn’t as large (or as famous) as Machu Picchu, it does make a great add-on to your Galapagos adventure. You can easily add the excursion to either the beginning or end of your trip. Cuenca is just a few hours by van from Guayaquil.

Getting to Ingapirca

Driving north from Cuenca, you’ll pass through a number of small towns, including Biblián, Cañar and Azogues. There is a rise in elevation and you’ll see scenes from typical rural life in Ecuador.

Interested to visit Ingapirca? Check out all of our mainland Ecuador programs.

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Bryan Haines

I’ve always loved kayaking because the kayak is quiet and light which makes it easy to get up nice and close to the animals. I was excited as we started out on our kayaking adventure in the Galapagos.

We were heading out to kayak the Itabaca channel which separates the islands of Baltra and Santa Cruz. It was about a 45 minute ride from where we were staying at the Aventura lodge in Puerto Ayora across Santa Cruz island to the Itabaca channel. The sun was shining and the water looked amazing, turquoise and crystal clear.

Here are a few of the things I loved about our kayaking adventure:

1. Sea Birds

We put the kayaks in at the main boat dock and started exploring along the edge of the mangrove. The first thing we noticed was a large pelican resting in the tops of the mangroves. He just sat there and watched lazily as we paddled by a few feet in front of him.

As we got a little farther from the dock we saw a lot of sea birds fishing and swooping all around us. We had seen blue footed boobies and frigate birds on land, but seeing them from the Kayak was a new experience. The blue footed boobies were plunge diving for their lunch not far from our kayak!

2. Marine Life

I noticed some fish jumping near the edge of the mangrove so I decided to get a closer look. As I got closer I saw that there were a lot of flies resting on the top of the water in the shade of the mangrove. There was a large school of fish jumping up trying to catch them. It was a nice feeling to be able to just float there while all these fish came around under my kayak and jumped out of the water at the flies.

We also saw white tipped reef sharks and skates resting on the bottom of the channel and swimming by under the kayaks. We saw a number of different kinds of fish as we paddled around.

Note: the two underwater photos were taken on the kayaking trip, but while snorkeling. We saw these animals from the boat, but the pictures come out much clearer underwater.

3. A Sea Lion and Boobie Droppings

As we kayaked near the cliffs of Santa Cruz Island we saw a sea lion soaking up the sun on some of the rocks near the waters edge. He didn’t seem the least bit worried about us and I think he was almost as curious about us as we were about him. (By the looks of the white rock, it seems that some sea birds also like his spot.)

There were also some blue footed boobies on the rocks. The naturalist guide explained that they were just resting there, but that they were not nesting. He said that you can tell when the boobies are nesting because they make a ring of droppings around their nest site. They don’t actually build a nest, they just lay their eggs on the ground so the ring of droppings marks the nest site. If you don’t see a ring of droppings you know that they are not nesting on that site.

A Wonderful Way To Spend The Morning

We really enjoyed our morning kayaking. We saw some amazing things and learned more about the islands and animals of the Galapagos.

It was also nice that we could use a double kayak that made it easier for our daughter to enjoy herself. We didn’t have to worry about her, and she didn’t have to paddle when she didn’t feel like it.

Have you been kayaking in the Galapagos? What did you think of it? Please share your comments.

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Dena Haines

Swimming with sea lions is an unforgettable experience.

Here is where we snorkeled with a sea lion on Floreana Island. It is a small beach just before La Loberia, a secluded beach where sea lions raise their young.

The entrance into the water is white sand. The black lava rock – both close to shore and further off-shore is great for seeing marine life and can be easily avoided while snorkeling. The water is calm and clear.

To the left of the beach, the sea lion raced around young children. The snorkel with sea lion video was filmed in about 4 feet (1.2 meters) of water.

Where To Snorkel With Sea Lions

Where to snorkel with sea lions on Floreana Island, Galapagos

To the right of the photo, you can see the small town of Puerto Velasco Ibarra.

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Bryan Haines

Until earlier this month, I had only seen marine iguanas feeding underwater on television.

Marine iguanas are unique, because they are the only seafaring iguanas. Learn more facts about marine iguanas.

While visiting Floreana Island earlier this month, we got to see marine iguanas feeding underwater – in shallow tidal pools. While we filmed just one, there were dozens of large adults sunning on the rocks. In the photo, you can see the setting. Check out the video, below the photo.

Galapagos Marine Iguana Feeding Underwater

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Bryan Haines

Drew Haines is a young Canadian expat living in Ecuador. She writes the Galapagos for Kids series on Red Mangrove Blog. Learn about the Galapagos from a kids perspective.

When you travel in the Galapagos, you’ll see amazing things every day! But as with all trips, some days are more exciting than others.

I love Isabela Island, the largest Island in the Galapagos. Here is what I did (and saw) in just one day:

Flamingos

That was amazing! It was a rare situation; all the flamingos had gotten together to mate. There must have been about 50!

But you shouldn’t expect to see this. Our guide said that this is very, very rare. But we were really happy to be there! Who knows, you might see it too!

Poison Apples

Well this was pretty strange. They were about the size of a golf ball and green. Our guide said that they are they are one of the most dangerous plants in the world! The apples could kill you if they were eaten. The leaves have a white sap that looks like dandelion milk. But this sap can cause very bad, painful blisters.

These apples are called Manzanilla de la muerte, or little apples of death. The only animal that can eat these little apples is the Giant Tortoise. I wonder how they do it?!

Gigantic Marine Iguanas

These Marine Iguanas were the biggest ones I ever saw! They looked a little bigger that your fat house cat. It scared me when I saw it at first! It was stretched out so I thought it was dead. But it wasn’t there when we came back so I guess it wasn’t really dead.

Read more about marine iguanas. I love marine iguanas! So I can’t wait to see them again!

Galapagos Ducks

These ducks were very small and colorful. I really liked them. There isn’t really much to say about them… just that I like them!

Wall of Tears

Wall of tears was really interesting… it was even a little creepy! I was amazed that people just dumped all their criminals there! Our guide said that the prisoners dropped the wall on the guards. She also said that you shouldn’t be there after 6pm, but I don’t believe that. Our guide also said that it is the cemetery. The prisoners were buried in the wall. In Spanish, it is called “muro de las lagrimas”.

On the hike we also saw lots of lava lizards.

Well, there you have it! That was an unbelievable day! I hope you will have a good experience in the Galapagos too. If you already have, please share it in the comments! Read about another great day in the Galapagos.

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Drew Haines

Have you heard the saying “it’s the little things that count“?

Well, this is certainly true in photography.

The little things make up the bigger things we are trying to capture so it can really add to the experience when we take a closer look and zoom in.

Beauty in the Texture of Life

Textures really capture my attention.

I like zooming in on the bumpy, smooth, spiny and shiny aspects of the subjects around me. When taking photos I often try to zoom in and fill the lens with the texture of the subject. This really helps me appreciate the design of the shell of a giant tortoise, the scales of a marine iguana or the bark of a cactus tree.

Cactus bark texture

The texture of lava rock

Textures of a marine iguana

If you can’t touch or take a piece of your subject home, getting a  close up of its texture can be the next best thing.

Shooting the “Whole Package”

This adds a lot of interest when laying out photos in a  photo frame, especially if the frame has multiple windows. You can play with shots of the subject in it’s natural surroundings, then zoom in on the face for shots to add personality, and then a final shot or two of the texture of the skin, scales, feathers or fur.

This will give a more complete picture of the subject.

Galapagos giant tortoise

Shell texture

Choose the Right Setting For Shooting Textures

You can get good texture photos with a high quality point and shoot, but a dSLR is even better. The setting I usually use is f/11 . When shooting textures I hold my breath as I push the shutter release to get as sharp a photo as possible. I also keep an eye out for light and shadow which sometimes means following the subject around or waiting till the clouds pass so the light hits it just right.

Paying attention to the angle can make a difference as well, I often take shots from above looking down, then I crouch down to get a different angle. The effect can be surprisingly different.

Check more Galapagos Photography Tips.

Tortoise leg texture

Do you enjoy taking texture shots? Please share what works for you by commenting on this post.

Red Mangrove Galapagos Travel Blog - Learn about the islands, animals and excursions of the Galapagos | Dena Haines