“You see this black, pointed rock that rises above the green vegetation there? It’s about half a meter just below,” our naturalist Jaime said patiently as he handed me a pair of binoculars… for the third time. He had spotted a Galapagos short-eared owl – a difficult sight to catch as its dark features and small stature blend effortlessly into the shades of gray and black of the Galapagos island. Sponge cake. I had been trying for at least five minutes to slowly move my gaze from the aforementioned pointy rock directly to the south, and had continued to return to dry land. “Um, I always I don't see it! I told Jaime, exasperated at missing this IRL. Planet Earth moment. I returned the binoculars to him, both baffled and pleasantly surprised and impressed by the time and energy I had spent on them. Me? Are you interested in birds?
Photography provided by Aqua Expeditions
It was a sunny summer afternoon and I had just embarked on an unforgettable adventure on Aquatic expeditions' Aqua Mare off the coast of Baltra Island of the Galapagos. A welcome change from my city life, the expedition was structured similarly to a safari with twice-daily land and sea excursions. THE Aqua Mare takes guests to five of the 13 main islands and three smaller islands of the archipelago, including St. CruzGenovese, Saint-Jacques, Santa Fe And Spanish. Each island was distinct from the previous one. While one offered picturesque sandy beaches and sea lions, the next featured a vast expanse of rocks inhabited by land iguanas, blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds (the males use their iconic red-throated pouches to attract females). The ship, which claims its first true superyacht experience in the Galapagos, features seven luxury cabins, offering up to 16 guests an intimate travel experience with a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio.
Charles Darwin He researched the wildlife of the Galapagos, which led him to develop his theory of natural selection. And even though I haven't read On the origin of species, I couldn't help but imagine Darwin's historic explorations as I gazed at the tiny warbler finches, the same creatures he set his sights on more than 150 years ago. Like Darwin, the two expert naturalist guides aboard the Aqua Mare were incredibly passionate about exploring this biodiversity wonderland. Every time the boat's engine slowed down as we approached the island of the day to explore, their eyes lit up. Moments later, I found them crouched next to the wildlife, taking countless iPhone photos of these captivating bird species alongside the rest of us. Their enthusiasm was contagious and I soon found myself reporting sightings of fluffy and adorable baby frigatebirds. I listened attentively as they explained the identifiers of each species. Minute by minute, I collected new nuggets of information, doing my best to store them safely in my brain for future memories.
To fuel our busy daily itineraries, the culinary team on board the Aqua Mare fed us well with a Nikkei inspired Japanese Peruvian menu prepared by the chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Offering only the freshest, sustainable ingredients from local suppliers, we enjoyed dinners like the Ecuadorian classic. seco de bife (a tasty beef dish) and lunches like seafood linguine (fresh pasta with seafood). On a particularly windy day on the main deck, I bit into a homemade empanada brimming with stringy Ecuadorian cheese. “Oh, I could eat about twenty of these,” I said to the guest next to me as I prepared my next bite with a scoop of salsa. As someone with a salty-sweet palate, I certainly found the treats impeccably prepared – think tomato and passion fruit cheesecake. suspiro (a treat similar to a Peruvian pie) – to be the icing on the cake of unforgettable meals.
After returning to the United States – with a keener appreciation than ever for the wonders of nature and a sense of pride at having completed my first solo adventure – I scrolled through the nearly 400 photos and videos that I captured during the trip and felt a sense of emotion. a pang of nostalgia. I missed the bizarre animals, the other guests and the crew, and the inexplicable thrill of exploring one of the world's most rarefied ecosystems. After being immersed for seven days in a place that was full of adventure, beauty and raw history, I now cling to the feeling I had when I first set down the eyes on a baby sea lion or watched the sun set over the Pacific Ocean atop the upper deck of the Aqua Mare. The Galapagos Islands are a destination with heart. When given the respect and love that the earth and its inhabitants deserve, it will love you back in ways you could never imagine. And although I may never again hear the endearing bark of the native sea lion or witness the famous mating dance of the albatrosses, I am forever changed by this week of walking in Darwin's footsteps.
Read this article as it appears in the magazine.
