The Galapagos may be a tourist trap...

It happens often that when you dream of a destination without actually researching it, it is usually more attractive in your mind than it really is. Now that I have a shot at sailing to the Galapagos and have started talking to other yachties about it, it turns out that some have told me to skip it! Reports of petty theft in the anchorages, gross levels of tourism, expensive rip off fees, and more and more development and settling of the islands... I am sure the natural beauty is still there in plenty but it is no longer an untouched pristine place... The word is to go to Cocos island instead. I had never heard about this island until a few days ago but it seems pretty interesting. Described as the "most beautiful island in the world" by Jacques Cousteau, it is more remote with no airport and no facilities for overnight stays... Maybe I will sail to both and provide a full report.

In other news, I calculated that I have to sail 4.7 percent more of the earth's lines of longitude before having circumnavigated.



Bridge of the Americas