January 6 – Isla de la Plata

Pam/ January 7, 2012/ Travel

Javier told me to show up about 9:30 AM for the tour. I was the first one there, two other “chicas” showing up shortly after I did. Although Javier told me the guides would speak English, neither of them did. So much for learning about the blue footed booby from my guide, Hiro.

We walked the short distance from the tour store front to the tour boat. The beach is littered with boats and fisherman. There was quite a crowd on the beach around a very large fish. It seemed like this was quite exciting. Even some of those in our group seemed interested. I stepped over the trail of blood from the fish and, when I looked up, I’d lost sight of our guide. He appeared quickly, understanding that he’d lost most of his group to the spectacle.

We deposited our shoes in a big bag and walked out into the water to get on the boat. There’s not one dock in this town, although there looks like there might be one being built. That’s the way a lot of things look … under construction… or maybe just unfinished.

There’s a floating building in the water at Puerto Lopez and I found out today it’s the Coast Guard. We had to make a stop there before exiting out into the sea. Before we got up to speed, one of our guides welcomed us, introduced the crew, and told us the drill for the day. At least that’s what it sounded like. At one point, just before the captain put it in high gear, he said something and everyone clapped. I clapped along and he thought that was funny … I didn’t even understand what he said but I was sport enough to clap along.

After an hour at high speed we reached Isla de la Plata, the island of silver. Named Isla de la Plata because Sir Francis Drake is reported to have hidden a huge treasure here … or because of the large amount of guano from all the birds. You can decide which to believe. The island is 14 miles west of Puerto Lopez and is considered an alternative to the Galapagos Islands.
Once on the island, Hiro, one of the guides, explained the hikes available, one short (two hours) and the other longer hike (three hours). All of us opted for the short hike except the two couples who I’m assuming were from Argentina. I saw a list yesterday of people with reservations and they were from Argentina.

The hike started with a narrow path which led to 188 stairs. I counted every one of them and kept thinking “I should have done some stair master workouts at the Y”. What would have helped is Bikram Stair Master. Later in the hike we were climbing again and it was just blazing hot. I kept thinking, “I’ll have to suggest a new class to Dave … Hot Stair Master”. Maybe I’ll patent it and call it “Lindberg Climbing”.

Being the “mini Galapagos” the island claims to have the same species of birds and (at some times of the year) seals sunning themselves. We didn’t see any seals today but we saw plenty of birds. In fact, we saw the blue footed booby in all stages of its life. We saw eggs, day old birds, birds with fluff, some with fluff and feathers, with just feathers but not blue feet yet, and adult birds with blue feet.

The view from the top of the island is stunning. The birds perch on the edge of the cliff (there’s no fence or railing and that “on the edge” stuff gives me the willies). I can’t figure out how they perch like that with those webbed feet.

All in all, I’m glad I went. I was very glad to see those 188 stairs at the two hour mark. I was ready to be done hiking!

Copy paste this to look at the photos: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BcMWbNu2ZKXhQ