Goodbye Galapagos

23 May 2024

Goodbye Galapagos

We spent the second Darwin Leader week in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. This time, our sea legs were truly put to the test, even at anchor! Academia Bay is open to the southeast, which is unfortunately where the swell usually comes from. This swell caused the ship to rock and roll while anchored, making work behind the computer screens particularly challenging for some camera operators and young scientists. Despite this, all five teams did a fantastic job presenting their results at the end of the week.

The final presentation was held on board the ship this time. To make the evening even more special, the films and presentations were shown outside on a projector screen, illuminated only by an old ship’s lantern for ambiance. Around 50 of us enjoyed drinks and snacks afterward, rounding off the evening with music and a bit of dancing.

The next day, after disembarking the Darwin Leaders, we set course for Baltra. This is the only island in the Galapagos where we can bunker the amount of fuel we need. The two hours we spent at the bunker station reminded us once more how unique the Galapagos Islands are! We had sea lions playing around the ship, 15 frigate birds perched in the rigging, a sea turtle swimming at the stern, and a land iguana on the quayside.

Today, we welcomed our new trainees for the next leg of our voyage. After completing customs and immigration clearance, we watched the islands fade into the distance. We bid farewell to a truly magical place with extraordinary wildlife. We hope to see you again, Galapagos, but now we are off to our next exciting destination: Easter Island!