My Galapagos wishlist - Brendan van Son

Brendan van Son is about to head off on his next adventure, this time to the Galapagos Islands:

I can almost confidently say that I have been nearly everywhere in South America. I have touched every single country on the main land of the Americas including obscure destinations like Suriname and French Guiana. 

However, in more than two years I've spent in South America there has been something missing: The Galapagos Islands. Passing through Ecuador on about 10 different occasions made me well aware of what the Galapagos has to offer, but I kept telling myself that I would wait until I could do it the right way. 

Shortly I will be heading to the Galapagos Islands with my friends from Gecko's Adventures. I will be documenting the trip here as well as on my own personal travel website Brendan's Adventures. But before I go, I thought i would list my Galapagos wishlist.

1) Boobies
As nearly any young man would testify, seeing boobies is a thrilling experience. I have seen a booby just once in my life, on the coast of Peru.  It was plump, intriguing, unshaken by my curiosity and had bright blue legs. Yes, the blue-footed booby is an amazing bird, but not to be shown up by all the other boobies on the islands. The Galapagos is home to Nazca, Red-Footed, and of course the famous Blue-Footed Boobies. I have long been intrigued by boobies who are famous for being friendly, curious and actors of one of the cutest mating dances in the animal kingdom.

2) Giant Tortoise

If you don't like tortoises then I don't think we can be friends anymore. I love all sorts, from the little tiny ones to the giant leather-backs. On the Galapagos Islands there are some absolutely massive tortoises with some of the largest males weighing over 200 kilos.  I'm sure I'll have to resist every urge to jump on the back of one and ask for a ride somewhere. The giant tortoises are sure to fill the memory card of my camera to the edges of its capacity.

3) Swimming with sea lions

I've swam with hammerhead sharks, sting rays, barracudas and even manatees but I've never swam with a sea lion.  Sea lions are another animal that entertains me, mostly because of the way it manages to climb rock cliffs despite how awkward it looks.  However, in the water I imagine it must be graceful and playful.   P.S. if the swim is with baby sea lions it can only make the experience better.

4) Revisiting my buddies the penguins

I fell in love with penguins in Antarctica last January.  They are so curious, playful, and peaceful.  They seem completely unafraid of people which makes them fun to sit and watch.  I would just sit down on the beaches of Antarctica and wait until the penguins came to me.  They would poke at my rubber boots, smile for the camera and often try to talk to me in their strange tongue   As I am likely leaving South America this winter, it will probably wont be until I get to South Africa in 2013 that I will see my little buddies again.

To follow Brendan's adventure to the Galapagos Islands with Gecko's Adventures follow him over on twitter or check back here or his own personal website for updates.

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Take a look at all our trips to the Galapagos Islands and see all these creatures and more! 

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