Tortuga Bay

We've woken up most mornings and it's been cloudy - warm, but cloudy. This morning, some blue sky! We thought about getting to Tortuga Bay, which is to the west of Puerta Ayora, and in a nature reserve. We were still mulling it over and on the point of deciding it wasn't worth the trek when we checked Google images - and decided it definitely was!
The hotel water taxi took us across the harbour and a local taxi took us 10 minutes further ($1) to the entrance of the reserve. From there it's a 40 minute walk to the beach, along a path that should really be painted yellow.

A splash of brght blue appeared in the distance and the sound of waves increased gradually until we emerged at last onto the beach. The sand was so fine it was more like dust. Would you say it was worth the walk?

Because we were stupid and foreign, we were there at the hottest time of day, which meant there were very few people around. It's good to be stupid sometimes! We had to share the beach with some of the local wildlife though.

Whether this pelican hoped to spot any fish in those waves is doubtful. Maybe he was just enjoying sitting there. Don't blame him!






At the end of the beach, we walked through some shrubbery and came to a lagoon with water gently lapping on soft sand.

We had meant to just take a few photos and go back, but Tortuga beach is so idyllic we spent an hour relaxing and swimming here then walked back along the beach. ( Watch out for low flying pelicans!)

After following the brown brick road back to the reserve entrance, we walked into town, shopped for "genuine" Ray Ban sunglasses to replace the prescription sunglasses Paul had sat on, and had a meal in an Ecuadorian Italian restaurant. By the way, if you think British road works are something to complain about . . . . .

We finished the day by going for a drink at the poolside bar where Perry and Diana joined us after their hotel meal. What a great day!