Wanting to see with my tight budget as much as I could of Santa Cruz Island, where I was staying during my trip to the Galapagos Islands, they suggested I shouldn't miss an incredible beach with a rather funny name: El Garrapatero (something like "the place of ticks"). So, on my fifth day in the archipelago, I decided to go there. >*Queriendo ver con mi ajustado presupuesto todo lo que pudiera de la isla Santa Cruz, donde me alojé durante mi estadía en las Islas Galápagos, me sugirieron no perderme una increíble playa con un nombre algo gracioso: El Garrapatero. Así que en mi quinto día por el archipiélago, decidí ir para allá.* ![295.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EpA3WdoQ9ZutHTpyNdALmeke4p2sDkafM5zgJYVcjN2pGX7BRPZvD1SvWD2eN1nK3Wm.JPG) This beach is located on the east coast of Santa Cruz Island, and to get there from Puerto Ayora, I had to take a taxi, as there is no public transportation on these islands. The trip takes about half an hour, the taxi drops you off at a parking lot, and from there you walk along a path for about 15 minutes to reach the beach. >*Esta playa se encuentra en la costa este de la Isla Santa Cruz, y para llegar allí desde Puerto Ayora, tenía que tomar un taxi, ya que en estas islas no hay transporte público. El trayecto dura como media hora, el taxi te deja en un estacionamiento y desde ahí caminas por un sendero y en unos 15 minutos llegas.* ![296.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Eqd9Uje4dQd4bLahZJwN1SMV412kQVuFLppPbqmp3mvFzkdFNi3WjXp49MpcorVrrx2.JPG) ![297.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EqqvL81KBfAnxYb17jWD9qxKCUM6fqWE7R9FadvXbGDJg8EQNUGrgfQCgCAmgCWTaKm.JPG) As you can see in the photos, the weather was cloudy and there was also some wind. When I got to the beach, it started to rain and I had to take shelter for about 15 minutes at the park rangers' station. >*Como pueden ver en las fotos, el tiempo estaba nublado y también había algo de viento. Al llegar a la playa empezó a llover y tuve que refugiarme unos 15 minutos en el puesto de los guardaparques.* ![298.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EqquveTD9fdft7hNWKhwW8nTkewBYgz463nD6i725YvGif5prEovEurL54hEZQhkYpV.JPG) ![299.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EnYRSw9a3eAdssecrkxFP5x2wDML5SdEVLJbidzXcVuEqBM4ch6tKyCqoAxf1Pn4XrA.JPG) ![300A.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Eq37cf2gBuVPA3EVpuoZiUMc8mc8USBGMwCs8kpRik92z4JschLswz8VrfJQivxJePC.jpg) I was a little discouraged because I thought I wouldn't be able to enjoy the place properly, but little by little the sky cleared up. As soon as it stopped raining, I went outside and saw that there was a lagoon, some flamingos stood out there. Of course, I went over to try to photograph them. >*Me desanimé un poco porque pensé que no podría disfrutar bien del lugar, pero poco a poco el cielo se fue despejando. Apenas paró de llover salí y vi que había una laguna, destacaban allí unos flamencos. Por supuesto me acerqué para tratar de fotografiarlos.* ![301.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EnaaE4tTjaCz1b5pNR4Dn9sciBZeVHmiy4owbxsf9uWxqgzNyFbJFQUgMVB6P45nZxM.JPG) ![303.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EnYTpQ7Hp7NT3eJfCAJySsYEJ8wVjX5HWMYANqnqvkYbAJkQioPxVGCAYxNTjaNGCNV.JPG) I couldn't get too close to them, the park rangers told me, and since my camera's zoom wasn't very good, the shots came out a bit blurry. >*No podía acercarme mucho a ellos, me dijeron los guardaparques, y como el zoom de mi cámara no era bueno, las tomas quedaron algo borrosas.* ![305.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Ep7v9Xjbfpcb1bp7Wi3mRqnebvMq19H6WB4rUHzf5uVgVHMYYKjDdeSww9vxnLXBKX3.JPG) ![308.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EoEqx2QsD1kSQFh2T5AEzAT7uTzJxS2u3fvZHuHEbknhWLtaiGM1dPyaKvhKWcAyU68.JPG) I left the lagoon and headed towards the sea. El Garrapatero beach is quite long, measuring about a kilometer and a half, with white sand and many dark rocks, which is characteristic of volcanic areas. >*Dejé la laguna y me dirigí en dirección al mar. La playa El Garrapatero es bastante extensa, mide como un kilómetro y medio, tiene arena blanca y muchas rocas oscuras, algo característico de los lugares volcánicos.* ![311.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EqNGcsSxroRrK1d9GUnWqPCkL4cuhbGm8XZxzvMK3fCZXRtmi8dqpi3KmYpZV4E4aBe.JPG) ![312.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EowGXBUHhfGm9GgegWx4yjneDp8ATNqA1AZbZ3D3LKEZ4eW59XkUNLnPVmkpPbkvwZd.JPG) ![313.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Eq7QoBH4JUFU8PsPSLNPnTnKtHGNNE9Q7ZKN9V5TnozxrhFdPYWzVZJiJRjW3QiywgU.JPG) The zapayas, those orange crabs that are very abundant in the Galapagos Islands, adorned the rocks. >*Las zapayas, esos cangrejos anaranjados que son muy abundantes en las Islas Galápagos, adornaban las rocas.* ![314.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EpvjMGH1gSspat53kbFAmNMLWtSCuyq6fHd82rN5wChU1dnkVD7ZuBSqRcxCYeshtnR.JPG) I didn't arrive that early, it was around 10:00 a.m., but there were still very few people here. That was perfect for me because I don't like natural places with crowds. >*No llegué tan temprano, eran como las 10:00 am, pero aún así había muy poca gente. Para mí perfecto porque no me gustan los lugares naturales con multitudes.* ![315.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Eq9WGSzzqyFesE4YvAoxVqT8sLPuuMqAc3tvML4SdrkzrJafHSMzQe1vhT6w2M2X2aK.JPG) ![316.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Eq12bj3gPkKBHs6bSbEnhHJtBWa2mAunDZKq88LKwcqV1Dum6YBnSymaVgHKXKhkcnX.JPG) ![317.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EqdCHuTsTreT6N3BWfKUQ1Z62Mh1uvSCzuSt6vZJfHZzPRG1m2EVJiPgUXDtg6ps9cA.JPG) Taking advantage of this, I spent a good while exploring the whole area. There are no facilities on this beach, so you have to bring your own water and food. >*Aprovechando esto, me dediqué un buen rato a explorar todo el entorno. No hay ningún tipo de servicio en esta playa, debes llevar tu agua y lo que vayas a comer.* ![318.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EqQPxg6xRcL2RfGnbo5tmsRoGFZTp2RepPbsSxfKAvq4PDYyJYsy4qq9GSoixArnkYj.JPG) ![319.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/23wCQYHdwiVDv4j4QZDrt85zF9UUhM3Fm2TpwdBf5NAuWn9uXzB9CLHMRkhHf27Ni7SPQ.JPG) There are many tide pools along the shore, and in the deeper ones you can dive in to snorkel. >*Hay muchas pozas de marea a lo largo de la costa, y en las de más profundidad te puedes sumergir para hacer snorkel.* ![320.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EqhSB6yqUf35uQRTmcgwV2LfyrKGLvstbxnHrNJpW6ZspgHPoNMk4in7cxLvgccjgXC.JPG) ![321.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EqYuZUZYxASM6c9VaZTxGi2fUyVdfErUnavZswA5SgTn8WpCXggpJVbbhnJX8tQEL7R.JPG) ![322.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EpnEk92dKw3F2W52NxtSAxraaswRyDVn5kR3mXr8NByGKGLZV16qDB2qcmE39QQfwcV.JPG) In addition to its beautiful scenery, this isolated beach with its unique ecosystem is home to a diverse fauna, most of which is endemic: coastal and marine birds, turtles and marine iguanas, crabs, tropical fish, among others. >*Además de su hermoso paisaje, esta playa aislada con su ecosistema único alberga una fauna diversa, en su mayoría endémica: aves costeras y marinas, tortugas e iguanas marinas, cangrejos, peces tropicales, entre otros.* ![324.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Eoc911mkEf6tAwapHFuRqxTNCe8qe6fAFmnwCpmdLCZjRSRuQghQJUuK5vAE7tcz9cn.JPG) ![326.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EqquKoERKSS9BHQ8n4kmgLjErYXURCK8cdiDJAxDnw45LqW8cntp177EKC75qzA2ny8.JPG) ![327.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EpLhN59cBoAGFYBk68VHfLc1jM4tU1zDmfK3V837p7DkFqm9RYmbeFRFELPyrYf8Zac.JPG) ![328.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EphxYikFtzp69QBFtjAfX67qo1JfcyXQRKN3DCo4U7tXHmTGyAAvPxzCXSFAaLrjWzd.JPG) ![331.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/246at6QdNr2qoSn8eRZhxd5TWxWNnPAgCqGkYxB85d2doZdFzAzM519kTWPYhxDbHpMLk.JPG) One of my goals was to swim at the beach, of course, and when I saw that the sun came out, I was very happy. It's a little sad to go to the beach and not have any sun, don't you think? >*Uno de mis objetivos era bañarme en la playa, por supuesto, y cuando vi que salió el sol, me puse muy contenta. Es un poco triste ir a la playa y no tener sol, ¿no creen?* ![329.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EpLgTskgc41FWb4rafjmsbos1CHnuV6NMRNsSkuUB5KsBTPisT6ByTgQQJYermcjJJf.JPG) ![330.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EowJ3Kzwc86D7fgN6X1MiUsfWLPKs6dsFgqkw2c7b9s6SFrx3W5b8VPo1vwDNqm1R99.JPG) ![332.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Eq377Nsm3R3P7hRN2c8S1dWZ2FWULfjDxBpPJ5aUjqerZZ3kME35YmLk1UjMhh3M5Ba.JPG) Everything looked more vibrant with the sun, the turquoise water, the white sand, and even the black rocks. >*Todo se veía más vibrante con el sol, el agua turquesa, la arena blanca y hasta las piedras negras.* ![333.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EptavEHJ3ZLy1KEHynmMcL3U5Ve3aKCE8EotVUXTJo3irHLmY9umwvpx8kQ9bxroY9R.JPG) ![338.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EoiY8R7EoPXEKijfwdD5pgycgu711DwtD6AVU2RGv32TJPxUWdBQfQkJ6G9aiGYDjaK.JPG) I found the perfect spot to lay out my towel, leave my things, and get into the water. Nearby, there were many birds cooling off and eating in the small pools of water. >*Encontré un lugar perfecto para extender mi toalla, dejar mis cosas y meterme en el agua. Cerca de mí había muchas aves refrescándose y comiendo en las pequeñas pozas de agua.* ![344.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EpGReWBoMSjFHHQNqBkuxJ77F8eiA2pGvvwrd5UUiTM4qudBbC74Adh8Qm7PNZsDdDr.JPG) ![345.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Eoptwyejx7iVAdEJAJ6wi4nog1DAkB3vWxJmayzQZYA4ThkcyjcKWPWE11LBW72JdeD.JPG) I really enjoyed swimming at El Garrapatero; the water was the perfect temperature. More people arrived during the afternoon, but the beach never got crowded. As well as swimming and snorkeling, you can also go kayaking here. >*Disfruté mucho nadar en El Garrapatero; el agua tenía una temperatura perfecta. En el transcurso de la tarde llegó más gente, pero la playa nunca se abarrotó. Además de nadar y hacer snorkel, también se puede practicar kayak.* ![347.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/23zS9J2PN9Y5z7RuDVKdh3gRMKoTnkbrLsnJB3aMHJcs1TXgLc9nHqWsy4AATd8AqDUmu.JPG) ![349.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EpXKUvCWMBmwM7DvGsX42fekiXqjuHN6Emshy1bGiPXBijh6i5A2dAnueLHukAUrRZA.JPG) ![350.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/Ep5p9NfgXHknRkoqVP2D3a9sEp9RL832Daoud7Qg6g5Ud2cnJtrFukGjiGbsbyFg7ki.JPG) ![351.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EogRHZggbm2Vma5zzXQMgzJeAn17SpajHF1UVdWfXQYvGKifiXgBpeLsfChGWhn5Wzw.JPG) I stayed there until 5:00 p.m., and when I returned to the taxi stand for Puerto Ayora, I paid attention to the local flora. There was a large sign warning visitors about the Manzanillo forest, a dangerous species endemic to the Galápagos Islands. Its latex is irritating and its fruit is poisonous. >*Estuve allí hasta las 5:00 de la tarde, y al regresar al punto donde se toman los taxis a Puerto Ayora, le presté atención a la flora del lugar. Había un gran letrero que advertía a los visitantes sobre el bosque de Manzanillo, una peligrosa especie endémica de las Islas Galápagos. Su látex es irritante y sus frutos venenosos.* ![352.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sofathana/EoiVEo6MEuJvNj84BfUnnGGrvYxqyQSUfnfvGWR6FbEAioiRza2cDQKh1vR5qWRJHSs.JPG) Well, that's the end of this tour. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you want to read the previous chapters of this travel diary, here are the links. See you next time! >*Bueno, aquí termina este paseo. Espero que les haya gustado, y si quieren leer los capítulos anteriores de este diario de viaje, les dejo los enlaces. ¡Hasta la próxima!* _{[Quito, my first encounter with the capital of the "Middle of the World" - The Ecuador diary / Quito, mi primer encuentro con la capital de la "Mitad del Mundo" - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/quito-my-first-encounter-with-the-capital-of-the-middle-of-the-world-the-ecuador-diary-quito-mi-primer-encuentro-con-la-capita)} _{[Quito at night, a stroll through La Ronda and the Panecillo viewpoint - The Ecuador diary / Quito de noche, un paseo por La Ronda y el mirador del Panecillo - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/quito-at-night-a-stroll-through-la-ronda-and-the-panecillo-viewpoint-the-ecuador-diary-quito-de-noche-un-paseo-por-la-ronda-y-el)} _{[Touring the great indigenous market of Otavalo - The Ecuador diary / Recorriendo el gran mercado indígena de Otavalo - El diario de Ecuador]( https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/touring-the-great-indigenous-market-of-otavalo-the-ecuador-diary-recorriendo-el-gran-mercado-indigena-de-otavalo-el-diario-de-ec)} _{[Journey to the centre of the world - The Ecuador diary / Viaje al centro del mundo - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/journey-to-the-centre-of-the-world-the-ecuador-diary-viaje-al-centro-del-mundo-el-diario-de-ecuador)} _{[Excursion to the Pululahua crater, an inhabited volcano - The Ecuador diary / Excursión al cráter del Pululahua, un volcán habitado - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/excursion-to-the-pululahua-crater-an-inhabited-volcano-the-ecuador-diary-excursion-al-crater-del-pululahua-un-volcan-habitado-el)} _{[Climbing the Rucu Pichincha volcano, a somewhat improvised adventure that turned out to be perfect - The Ecuador diary / Subiendo al volcán Rucu Pichincha, una aventura algo improvisada que resultó perfecta - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/climbing-the-rucu-pichincha-volcano-a-somewhat-improvised-adventure-that-turned-out-to-be-perfect-the-ecuador-diary-subiendo-al-)} _{[Getting to know the Guayasamín House Museum and The Chapel of Man - The Ecuador diary / Conociendo la Casa Museo Guayasamín y La Capilla del Hombre - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/getting-to-know-the-guayasamin-house-museum-and-the-chapel-of-man-the-ecuador-diary-conociendo-la-casa-museo-guayasamin-y-la-cap)} _{[Traveling to the exotic Galapagos Islands with a free ticket - The Ecuador diary / Viajando a las exóticas Islas Galápagos con boleto gratis - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/traveling-to-the-exotic-galapagos-islands-with-a-free-ticket-the-ecuador-diary-viajando-a-las-exoticas-islas-galapagos-con-bolet)} _{[Getting to know the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands at the Charles Darwin Research Station - The Ecuador diary / Conociendo a las tortugas gigantes de las Islas Galápagos en la Estación Científica Charles Darwin - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/getting-to-know-the-giant-tortoises-of-the-galapagos-islands-at-the-charles-darwin-research-station-the-ecuador-diary-conociendo)} _{[Among marine iguanas and Darwin's finches in Tortuga Bay, Galapagos Islands - The Ecuador diary / Entre iguanas marinas y pinzones de Darwin en Bahía Tortuga, Islas Galápagos - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/among-marine-iguanas-and-darwins-finches-in-tortuga-bay-galapagos-islands-the-ecuador-diary-entre-iguanas-marinas-y-pinzones-de)} _{[La Loberia, a beach where you can interact with the sea lions of the Galapagos Islands - The Ecuador diary / La Lobería, una playa donde puedes interactuar con los lobos marinos de las Islas Galápagos - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/la-loberia-a-beach-where-you-can-interact-with-the-sea-lions-of-the-galapagos-islands-the-ecuador-diary-la-loberia-una-playa-don)} _{[The beautiful beach of Puerto Chino, its wildlife, and the viewpoint / Galapagos Islands - The Ecuador diary || La hermosa playa de Puerto Chino, su fauna y el mirador / Islas Galápagos - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/the-beautiful-beach-of-puerto-chino-its-wildlife-and-the-viewpoint-galapagos-islands-the-ecuador-diary-la-hermosa-playa-de-puert)} _{[Las Grietas: Discovering an amazing work of nature, Galapagos Islands - The Ecuador diary / Las Grietas: Descubriendo una asombrosa obra de la naturaleza, Islas Galápagos - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/las-grietas-discovering-an-amazing-work-of-nature-galapagos-islands-the-ecuador-diary-las-grietas-descubriendo-una-asombrosa-o)} _{[A relaxing stroll through the Lagoon of the Nymphs, Galapagos Islands - The Ecuador diary / Un relajante paseo por la Laguna de Las Ninfas, Islas Galápagos - El diario de Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@sofathana/a-relaxing-stroll-through-the-lagoon-of-the-nymphs-galapagos-islands-the-ecuador-diary-un-relajante-paseo-por-la-laguna-de-las-n)

**THANKS FOR VISITING MY BLOG! / ¡GRACIAS POR VISITAR MI BLOG!**

_{***All photos are my property and were taken with a Sony Cyber Shot digital camera / Todas las fotos son de mi propiedad y fueron tomadas con una cámara digital Sony Cyber Shot***}

[//]:# (!worldmappin -0.69465 lat -90.22080 long d3scr)}

Rock islands