I love snorkeling, and this was THE best day for snorkeling!

We started the day at Kicker Rock aka Leon Dormido. This is probably one of the most recognizable spots in the Galapagos because of the very distinctive rock formation. Some say it looks like someone kicking away a rock. Meh. I prefer to look beneath the water!

The guide warned us that the waters here are notorious for being very choppy and dangerous. People have been bashed against the massive rock walls by the heavy waves. He advised people who were not good swimmers to stay on the yacht. About five people stayed on the boat, but even though I am not a great swimmer, I was determined to see what many describe as the best snorkeling of the Galapagos.

I suited up in a full body wet suit because the guide said that they had been hearing reports of Portuguese man o’ war (a really horrible jellyfish) in the area. The captain of our ship rented out suits for $30 for the entire 8 days. I went snorkeling every day (usually two or three times) so we really got our money’s worth in my book. The mask and flippers were free to use.

I threw on a life jacket just to be safe.

We were able to swim with giant sea turtles, manta rays, white tipped sharks, and TONS of colorful fish!

Later we went to a beautiful sandy beach called Cerro Brujo for more snorkeling. I saw a giant manta ray with two babies and was afraid that I would be pushed into it by the current and die (like Steve Irwin “The Crocodile Hunter”). I just swam away really fast thanks to my borrowed flippers!

The best part was swimming with sea lions because they were just so close! I love how playful and curious the sea lions were. Just be careful to stay away from the dominant males, because they are known to bark and bite people who get too close.

After lunch we went to Isla Lobo where we were hoping to swim with baby sea lions, but all of them were on the rocks jealously guarded by a dominant bull. We saw plenty more fish, more rays, and a few female sea lions in the water.

Ater dinner we went to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to walk around. It wasn’t on the itinerary, but the boat needed to restock so we were able to explore for a couple of hours. I bought a tiny 3 oz bottle of sunscreen for $20 and a bottle of rum to share with my new cruise friends.

A church I found in port called Catedral Inmaculada Concepcion

TIP- Go to the far end of the strip of shops and go to the restaurant at the end of the street on the corner. They made excellent Caipirinhas at a decent price.

I would definitely cruise with the Guantanamera in the future!