Isla de la Plata, the Poor Man's Galapagos
After a day at Los Frailes beach, we woke up early to go to the tour's office, which we were supposed to be there by 9am. We were running late so we rushed to get to the office but for no reason because when we got there we just had to wait for the guide for 15 minutes in front of the glass on a cushion. Then guide came and we went to the wharf to buy the $1 Machalilla National Park entry tickets. When we were waiting for the rest of the people to come we were talking about our favorite magazines.
Finally we were on the water which unfortunately there was lots of waves on the whole 1:15 hour ride.Dylan and I felt kinda sick but my sister felt a lot worse than me. We had been sick with some sort of flu for a few days already. When we were really close to the beach there was a fisherman who threw some fish into the water and 3 Green Turtles came up to eat.
We arrived at the beach and started on a 1 km hike where we saw a rare mockingbird that is native to the island, and some camouflage moths. At the top where the trail split, we saw a two Blue-footed Boobies that were sitting down so we couldn't see their feet. You can go two ways the purple path that is shorter and easier but there is less of the Fragata birds, the blue path is longer and harder but you can see more Fragatas.
We decided to go an the blue path and set off, almost instantly we saw two Blue-footed Boobies that were standing up. The guide said that it was a boy and a girl, you can tell because the boy makes a more high pitched noise than the girl, and that their pupils are different sizes and feet are different colors, but I can't remember which is which. (Boy: smaller pupils, greener feet; Girl: bigger pupils, and blue feet.) He also said that they were a couple and that the boy raises his tail to show that they are going out and that you shouldn't mess with him or her. Along the walk we saw many more until we got to a huge flock of Fragatas where the single boys were puffing out there red airbag that would impress the girl Fragatas because it showed that they were healthy enough to puff it up which takes hours to do.
(End Wells)
By Cana:
The boobies were cool. There are also Red-footed Boobies, but they were on a part of the island that we didn't travel to. Each tour group got to vote on which trail we'd take, and the longest trail, which has the Red-footed Boobies, wasn't even really offered to us. The male's whistle sounds like those whirring tube whistles you can get and the female's is more of a squawk.
We also got to see an interesting tree called Palo Santo, or Holy Wood, that is used for incense. It smells lovely and is totally natural and is used to ward off illness and insects. You just light a little piece and blow it out and then it will smoke a bit. I bought a few packets in Puerto Lopez.
After leaving the island, we went around the corner and parked the boat to go snorkeling. The guide threw a little bit of bread in the water and instantly a ton of tropical fish came up to the surface to eat. We geared up and went snorkeling. Unfortunately, our waterproof camera took a beating near Mount Fitz Roy and now has a crack in it. We didn't feel like testing it's waterproofness in the super salty water. There were a ton of fish swimming around us and some turtles. Wells got stung by something in the water, and so did I and some others. It just stung a little. I was already super sunburned anyways, that it didn't matter much. We asked the guides and they said they didn't know what it was. After about an hour, we loaded up and headed back to Puerto Lopez.
For me, the boat ride was awesome. I'd forgotten how much of my childhood was out on a boat in Alaska. I was perfectly comfortable in the waves. The best part is that I was the one who spotted the group of Humpback Whales as we were returning to Puerto Lopez. It was awesome. The three whales each jumped right next to our boat (~40m), which according to our guide is rare because the Humpbacks are tired from migrating. Early June is when they start arriving to this part of Ecuador. We didn't have our camera out when we saw the whales and we didn't even get it out--we were too mesmerized--but a fellow from the group was a photographer and said he'd post this great photo he got on his FB eventually. I've checked and it isn't there yet. All the folks on the boat thanked and congratulated me profusely for spotting the whales, I felt so popular! Hahahaha.
Speaking of tour guides, if you go, make sure you book a tour of the island from a reputable tour company. There are a lot of people that will come up to you trying to sell you tours. Only certain guides have permits to go to Isla de la Plata, and only 10 boats are permitted a day. These other guides are selling tours to a closer island that doesn't have the birds. Our tour operator, Bosque Tours (I think) is run by a Chileno, and he's great. He even let us camp on some land he had on the beach. Since there was a hose, Dylan and I were able to do a bunch of laundry that had been piling up.
After the tour, we headed a little north and parked on a beach access road in a small community called La Boca, just outside of Puerto Cayo. We got a little stuck in the sand, but Wells dug the tire out and made a ramp of sticks and we got out. Good job, son! It was a great place to camp--you could hear the waves crashing all night long.
Finally we were on the water which unfortunately there was lots of waves on the whole 1:15 hour ride.Dylan and I felt kinda sick but my sister felt a lot worse than me. We had been sick with some sort of flu for a few days already. When we were really close to the beach there was a fisherman who threw some fish into the water and 3 Green Turtles came up to eat.
We arrived at the beach and started on a 1 km hike where we saw a rare mockingbird that is native to the island, and some camouflage moths. At the top where the trail split, we saw a two Blue-footed Boobies that were sitting down so we couldn't see their feet. You can go two ways the purple path that is shorter and easier but there is less of the Fragata birds, the blue path is longer and harder but you can see more Fragatas.
We decided to go an the blue path and set off, almost instantly we saw two Blue-footed Boobies that were standing up. The guide said that it was a boy and a girl, you can tell because the boy makes a more high pitched noise than the girl, and that their pupils are different sizes and feet are different colors, but I can't remember which is which. (Boy: smaller pupils, greener feet; Girl: bigger pupils, and blue feet.) He also said that they were a couple and that the boy raises his tail to show that they are going out and that you shouldn't mess with him or her. Along the walk we saw many more until we got to a huge flock of Fragatas where the single boys were puffing out there red airbag that would impress the girl Fragatas because it showed that they were healthy enough to puff it up which takes hours to do.
(End Wells)
Here is a mama Booby with her two chicks. They were the only chicks hatched so far this year--there had been a strange spring and the couples, who are only a pair during mating season, split up and then had to re-group again. Only two couples stayed together from the first pairing, and this is one of those nests.
Fragata
This guy has no game.
Check out that guy!
This is a juvenile. The males and females look like this, with the white feel and different coloring, until they reach maturity at about 2-3 years old.
Girl booby. Big pupils, blue feet.
The boobies have no fear of people. It's weird.
I think we have 1000+ of these sorts of selfies by Wells.
Poor Dylan was so sick all day. She was really a trooper.
By Cana:
The boobies were cool. There are also Red-footed Boobies, but they were on a part of the island that we didn't travel to. Each tour group got to vote on which trail we'd take, and the longest trail, which has the Red-footed Boobies, wasn't even really offered to us. The male's whistle sounds like those whirring tube whistles you can get and the female's is more of a squawk.
We also got to see an interesting tree called Palo Santo, or Holy Wood, that is used for incense. It smells lovely and is totally natural and is used to ward off illness and insects. You just light a little piece and blow it out and then it will smoke a bit. I bought a few packets in Puerto Lopez.
After leaving the island, we went around the corner and parked the boat to go snorkeling. The guide threw a little bit of bread in the water and instantly a ton of tropical fish came up to the surface to eat. We geared up and went snorkeling. Unfortunately, our waterproof camera took a beating near Mount Fitz Roy and now has a crack in it. We didn't feel like testing it's waterproofness in the super salty water. There were a ton of fish swimming around us and some turtles. Wells got stung by something in the water, and so did I and some others. It just stung a little. I was already super sunburned anyways, that it didn't matter much. We asked the guides and they said they didn't know what it was. After about an hour, we loaded up and headed back to Puerto Lopez.
All the bird poop gives the island a "silver" look, hence: Isla de la Plata (Island of Silver)
For me, the boat ride was awesome. I'd forgotten how much of my childhood was out on a boat in Alaska. I was perfectly comfortable in the waves. The best part is that I was the one who spotted the group of Humpback Whales as we were returning to Puerto Lopez. It was awesome. The three whales each jumped right next to our boat (~40m), which according to our guide is rare because the Humpbacks are tired from migrating. Early June is when they start arriving to this part of Ecuador. We didn't have our camera out when we saw the whales and we didn't even get it out--we were too mesmerized--but a fellow from the group was a photographer and said he'd post this great photo he got on his FB eventually. I've checked and it isn't there yet. All the folks on the boat thanked and congratulated me profusely for spotting the whales, I felt so popular! Hahahaha.
Speaking of tour guides, if you go, make sure you book a tour of the island from a reputable tour company. There are a lot of people that will come up to you trying to sell you tours. Only certain guides have permits to go to Isla de la Plata, and only 10 boats are permitted a day. These other guides are selling tours to a closer island that doesn't have the birds. Our tour operator, Bosque Tours (I think) is run by a Chileno, and he's great. He even let us camp on some land he had on the beach. Since there was a hose, Dylan and I were able to do a bunch of laundry that had been piling up.
After the tour, we headed a little north and parked on a beach access road in a small community called La Boca, just outside of Puerto Cayo. We got a little stuck in the sand, but Wells dug the tire out and made a ramp of sticks and we got out. Good job, son! It was a great place to camp--you could hear the waves crashing all night long.
