Time was running short on our stay in the Galápagos – there was only one more 3-week class ahead of us, and after that, for legal reasons (the government is very strict about how long foreigners or even mainland Ecuadorians can stay on the islands), we would have to leave pretty much immediately.
Our final class was focused on plants in the Galápagos, with a focus on the relations between native and invasive species. Due to the Galápagos’ remoteness, much like my home state of Hawai’i, its native wildlife has evolved on its own separate from the rest of the world. As such, this was a pretty interesting class subject for me, although I personally was a little disappointed at its relative lack of field work compared to the other classes where we made trips to other islands.
Outside of class, we did our best to make the most of our remaining time in the islands. After learning that camping permits were pretty cheap and easy to acquire, we decided to go camping at Puerto Chino, a beach on the south shore and the farthest (and nicest) beach that could be accessed without having to take a boat.
We also did what is called a “360” on San Cristóbal, essentially taking a boat all the way around the island and visiting various spots along the way, including Kicker Rock, a famous snorkeling and diving spot, and Punta Pitt, the easternmost point of the Galápagos. There, we got lucky enough to see a massive dolphin pod! The size of it was genuinely like nothing I had seen before, with probably at least a hundred dolphins if not more – that moment was one of the most standout points of the semester. We spent the rest of our time hanging around town and at the beaches, making the best of the time we had left, including renting some kayaks and paddling around Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
But before we knew it, the weeks flew by and it was time to leave. It was difficult especially since we were all leaving at different times to go on our way, so we had to say goodbye to each other basically one at a time. It wasn’t long before I found myself back at the airport in Quito for the long trip home, but the experiences I had in Ecuador and the Galápagos will stay with me forever.
Goodbyes at the airport.
Kai