3rd-10th June 2024
The closest I've ever been to wild animals... a childhood dream come true
I went to the Galápagos with no expectations… and it felt like it changed my life.
It was like I had taken the kid in me, the one who used to dream about wild animals and faraway islands, and brought her there to see it all, for real. Sea lions sleeping on beaches, iguanas sunbathing on lava rocks, turtles the size of bathtubs just wandering freely… it was surreal. My childhood dreams were unfolding right in front of me.
I spent a week there, visiting the three main islands: San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela, around two days on each. Only once I got there did I realize how little time that really was. Galápagos isn’t just a place you check off a list. It’s a world of its own. I almost wish I could go back and stay for a month or more.
I didn’t take many paid tours. I hiked, snorkeled on my own and still saw an unbelievable amount of wildlife. You really don’t need to rely on expensive tours to experience the islands’ magic. Honestly, I’m not even sure I’d recommend most of them… many didn’t seem very eco-conscious, and the islands are so fragile. It’s better to explore gently, on your own terms.
What surprised me most wasn’t just what I saw... it was what it awoken in me. A sense of wonder I hadn’t felt in years. A deep love for nature. A reminder of what truly moves me. I left with salty hair, tired legs… and a calm clarity that this, wildness, nature, connection, is a core part of what I need in my life.
It was like I had taken the kid in me, the one who used to dream about wild animals and faraway islands, and brought her there to see it all, for real. Sea lions sleeping on beaches, iguanas sunbathing on lava rocks, turtles the size of bathtubs just wandering freely… it was surreal. My childhood dreams were unfolding right in front of me.
I spent a week there, visiting the three main islands: San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela, around two days on each. Only once I got there did I realize how little time that really was. Galápagos isn’t just a place you check off a list. It’s a world of its own. I almost wish I could go back and stay for a month or more.
I didn’t take many paid tours. I hiked, snorkeled on my own and still saw an unbelievable amount of wildlife. You really don’t need to rely on expensive tours to experience the islands’ magic. Honestly, I’m not even sure I’d recommend most of them… many didn’t seem very eco-conscious, and the islands are so fragile. It’s better to explore gently, on your own terms.
What surprised me most wasn’t just what I saw... it was what it awoken in me. A sense of wonder I hadn’t felt in years. A deep love for nature. A reminder of what truly moves me. I left with salty hair, tired legs… and a calm clarity that this, wildness, nature, connection, is a core part of what I need in my life.
