Isla de la Plata and Snorkeling

Friday, Oct. 20, 2017--Puerto Lopez

Last night, I went back out for a while.  Puerto Lopez looks better along the waterfront at night.  There are tent bars and restaurants lined up on the beach with really nice colored light fixtures.  If I were traveling with someone, I would have enjoyed sitting at one and having cocktails and a conversation.

Today, I went to Isla de la Plata, an island 42 km (about 25 miles) off the coast.  It is protected within the boundaries of Machalilla National Park.  I really had no interest in visiting Galapagos as a part of my trip here for several reasons:. 1) I didn't want to be a part of spoiling the islands, 2) They are so remote that it takes a minimum of 4-5 days to go there, 3) I don't like multi-day tours, etc.  But visiting Isla de la Plata is a lot like visiting Galapagos.

After an hour on a speedboat, we arrived there.  As we paused just off shore near a couple of fishing boats, there were seabirds around us and many giant green turtles swimming in the water. 

Landing, we took a 2-hour hike.   We saw a snake and lots of lizards on the way to the top of the island.  Once there we started seeing may blue-footed boobies-birds with sky blue colored webbed feet.  It is their mating season, and we saw at least three couples doing their mating dance.  Many of the birds, however, were already nesting.  The nest on cleared ground, so they especially like the hiking trails.  We saw them sitting on eggs.  They lay 1 or 2 (and occasionally 3) eggs.  We saw a hatched baby that wasn't doing well and probably won't survive.  We saw two babies that we're doing well.  We saw a just hatched baby still being protected under its mother's body.  As we crossed the top of the island, they were everywhere.

Eventually we came to the nesting area for frigate birds.  They nest in trees.  A tree could be loaded with many of them.  At the same time, many others would be swooping through the air.  We found ourselves very close to a female resting on her egg(s). As we took photos, suddenly the male flew in and landed on a branch to protect them.

After returning to the boat, we moved to a calm area and went snorkeling.  There weren't a lot of fish there, but there was beautiful coral growth.  It seemed so calm and peaceful floating and seeing everything below.  We spent maybe 30-45 minutes there.

The trip included snacks--pineapple and watermelon slices, a tuna sandwich, a cheese and jam sandwich, slices of banana bread, bananas, and cola.  It was a nice group with 3 young body builder guys from Argentina, a couple from Chile, a young social worker from Montreal, a family and a couple from Ecuador, and me. 

I had dinner with the couple from Chile tonight.  (I had fish cooked in a coconut sauce.) HThey are actually from here, but they are professionals (a civil engineer and a biologist) who moved there for work.  I will see them again next week in Quito.

It has been a very nice day.  Tomorrow, however, will be a long travel day.  I have to catch a bus at 5:00 tomorrow morning!!!