© Robert Siegel
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Ecuador 2025

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+ El Monte Lodge, near Mindo
+ Quito
+ Galápagos - separate page
+ itinerary
+ Birds
+ Mammals
+ Frogs
+ Spider
+ Fungi
+ Flora

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Link to the Galapagos portion of the trip
+ Galápagos 2025

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Mindo area

Zarek and Bob with Mindo sign

mindo

Signs
Mindo, Ecuador
June 19, 2025
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Birds

ecuador

Fawn-breasted brilliant (Heliodoxa rubinoides)
Family: Trochilidae (hummingbirds)
Mindo, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Lineated woodpecker

quito

Mindo, Ecuador
June 19, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Sunbittern

quito

Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias
Family: Eurypygidae (sunbittern)
El Monte, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Sunbittern poised

quito

Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias
Family: Eurypygidae (sunbittern)
El Monte, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon R5m2
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el monte

Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias
Family: Eurypygidae (sunbittern)
El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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Barbet

mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 19, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Young potoo

mindo

Great potoo (Nyctibius grandis)
Family: Nyctibiidae (potoos)
Mindo, Ecuador
June 19, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Blue-gray tanager

ecuador

Mindo, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Golden tanager

mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Cock of the rock

mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Cock of the rock

mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Hummingbird nest

el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
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Mammals

Agouti

mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 19, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Frogs

mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Bugs, butterflies, spiders

mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Caterpillar

ecuador

Mindo, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon 7D Mark II
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mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon R5m2
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mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon R5m2
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mindo

Mindo, Ecuador
June 18, 2025
Canon R5m2
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el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
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Stingless bees

mindo

El Monte, Ecuador
June 18, 2025
Canon R5m2
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Dinner

mindo

Spider, grasshopper, melostome at night
Mindo, Ecuador
June 19, 2025
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mindo

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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Flora

mindo

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 22, 2025
Canon 7D Mark II

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el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 22, 2025
Canon 7D Mark II

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el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 18, 2025
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Cecropia leaf

ecuador

Mindo, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
Canon 7D Mark II
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Tiny Orchid

el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 18, 2025
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Leaf miner

el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 18, 2025
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Bridge

el monte

Bridges
El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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Trail

mindo

Punto Ornitologico Mindo, Ecuador
June 19, 2025
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Mindo Maya Chocolate tour

mindo maya

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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mindo maya

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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mindo maya

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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mindo maya

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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mindo maya

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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mindo maya

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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Dinner at El Monte

el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025

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Lunch at El Monte

el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 21, 2025
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Napkin art - spoon person

el monte

El Monte, Ecuador
June 20, 2025
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Hongo del choco

mindo

Approaching Mindo, Ecuador
June 18, 2025
Canon R5
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Quito

Roses

quito

Quito Airport
Quito, Ecuador
June 17, 2025
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Selling scarves

quito

Old City
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
Canon EOS R5
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Trompe l'oeil

quito

Old City
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
Canon EOS R5
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Convent courtyard

mitad del mundo


Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
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Convent organist

mitad del mundo


Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
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Group shot with mary statue

quito

Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
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Rain though the jet window

quito

On approach to the city
Quito, Ecuador
June 17, 2025
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Quito Botanical Garden

quito botanical garden

Signs
Quito Botanical Garden
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
Canon R5m2

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quito botanical garden

Quito Botanical Garden
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
Canon R5m2

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quito botanical garden

Quito Botanical Garden
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
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quito botanical garden

Quito Botanical Garden
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
Canon R5m2

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quito botanical garden

Quito Botanical Garden
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
Canon R5m2

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quito botanical garden

Quito Botanical Garden
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
Canon R5m2

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quito botanical garden

Quito Botanical Garden
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
Canon 7D Mark II

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de la llama

de la llama

Signs
de la llama restaurant
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
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Six amigos

de la llama

de la llama
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
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doubt is beautiful

de la llama

de la llama
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2025
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Equator

Bob and llama

mitad del mundo


Intinan, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
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Rebecca and llama

mitad del mundo

El Crater Restaurant
Intinan, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
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Hannah, llama, and Bob

mitad del mundo

El Crater Restaurant
Intinan, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
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Bob and Zarek

mitad del mundo


Intinan, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
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Butterfly

mitad del mundo


Intinan, Ecuador
June 25, 2025
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Antisana

Caracara

antisana


Antisana, Ecuador
June 23, 2025
Canon R5m2

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Ibis

antisana


Antisana, Ecuador
June 23, 2025
Canon R5m2

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Dove

antisana


Antisana, Ecuador
June 23, 2025
Canon R5m2

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Guayaquil

Boiling khoi

guayaquil

Fish
Aeropuerto de Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmed
Guayaquil, Ecuador
July 7, 2025
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Palm

guayaquil

Aeropuerto de Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmed
Guayaquil, Ecuador
July 8, 2025
Canon R5
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Spath

guayaquil

Aeropuerto de Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmed
Guayaquil, Ecuador
July 8, 2025
Canon R5
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Dove

guayaquil

Aeropuerto de Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmed
Guayaquil, Ecuador
July 8, 2025
Canon R5
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Tending the airport gardens

guayaquil

Aeropuerto de Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmed
Guayaquil, Ecuador
July 8, 2025
Canon R5
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Aeropuerto de Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmed

guayaquil

Signs Guayaquil, Ecuador
July 7, 2025
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A bullet with my name on it

guayaquil

Signs Hilton Colon
Guayaquil, Ecuador
July 7, 2025
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The Trip Itinerary - June 17 - July 8, 2025

+ June 17, 2025 Tuesday - SFO to Houston to Quito Airport

Wendy dropped off me at SFO
SFO to Houston
Met up with Zarek in Houston
Houston to Quito Airport
Met by hotel shuttle driver
Hotel shuttle to Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel
Accommodation: Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel

+ June 18, 2025 Wednesday - Wyndham Airport Hotel, Quito to El Monte Lodge near Mindo

Wyndham
Early wake-up
Met by Eddie
Dinner at Lodge
Accommodation: El Monte Lodge

+ June 19, 2025 Thursday - El Monte Lodge

Breakfast at Lodge
Punti Ornitológico, Mindo - woodpecker, adolescent potoo, hummingbird feeding
Dinner at Lodge
Accommodation: El Monte Lodge

+ June 20, 2025 Friday - El Monte Lodge

Predawn wake-up
Drive to Alirio´s Umbrellabird lek - pretty disappointing
Breakfast - Cantón San Miguel de Los Bancos, Pincincha, Ecuador - empanadas
Dinner at Lodge

+ June 21, 2025 Saturday - El Monte Lodge

Predawn departure with Tom
Cock-of-the-Rock Lek Santa Elena
Breakfast at Lodge
Hike up "Mount El Monte" - the Trail to the San Lorenzo Ridge with Zarek and Tom
Mindo Maya Chocolate tour - Mindo with Zarek
Dinner at Lodge

+ June 22, 2025 Sunday - El Monte, Mindo to Quito

Breakfast at Lodge
Lunch at the Lodge
Accommodation: Casa Magnolia, Cumbayá ($111.55)

+ June 23, 2025 Monday - Quito, Antisana

Breakfast at Casa Magnolia with Juan
Juan drove us to Antisana
Lunch in Antisana
Juan drove us back to his house in Cumbayá to see his atelier
Cab to Go Quito Hotel
Went with Judith to "bao restaurant" - got spring rolls but I was too full to eat and ginger lemonade which was awful
Accommodation: Go Quito Hotel

+ June 24, 2025 Tuesday - Quito

Breakfast at Go Quito
Meeting with trip staff - 9 am
Work on presentations - in hotel room, Zarek went out
Lunch at De la Llama with Zarek, John Dunn, Mauricio, Esteban
Bought De la Llama t-shirt
Botanical Garden - Orquideario
Back to Hotel
Cab to Teleferico with Zarek
Walk to overlook
Last car down
Cab back to hotel
Dinner at Go Quito
Accommodation: Go Quito Hotel

+ June 25, 2025 Wednesday - Quito

Breakfast at Go Quito - Mirador Room 17th Floor
Buses to Madonna statue
Buses to Colonial City
Walking tour - Independence Plaza, the presidential palace, and the monastery of San Francisco
Convento y museo de San Francisco
Buy two scarves from street vendor
Buses to El Crater Restaurant - lunch
Photos with llamas
Intiñan Equator Museum
Buses to Mitad del Mundo
Buses back to hotel
First lecture
Dinner at Go Quito Hotel - top floor restaurant
Accommodation: Go Quito Hotel

+ June 26, 2025 Thursday - Quito / Baltra / Embark La Pinta

Breakfast at Go Quito
Bus to Quito Airport
Quito to Guayquil
Guayquil to Baltra
Bus to Itabaca Channel
Pangas to La Pinta
South Plaza Island
Accommodation: La Pinta

+ June 27, 2025 Friday - Santa Fe, San Cristobal Islands

Early breakfast on La Pinta
Sante Fe Island - wet landing
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal Island - dry landing
Walk to the Gianni Arismendi Interpretation Center
Continue to Cerro Tijeretas
Walk back to town with Zarek and Brennecke
Cafe San Cristobol with Zarek and Brennecke - ice cream
Accommodation: La Pinta

+ June 28, 2025 Saturday - San Cristobal Island

Breakfast on La Pinta
Punta Pitt, San Cristobal - wet landing, kid walk
Three species of booby, goats
Lunch on the ship
Cerro Brujo, San Cristobal - wet landing
Circumnavigate Kicker Rick at sunset
Dinner on the ship
"Family" Olympics
Accommodation: La Pinta

+ June 29, 2025 Sunday - Espanola

Breakfast on La Pinta
Punta Suarez, Espanola
Tour of the bridge
Dinner on the ship
Accommodation: La Pinta

+ June 30, 2025 Monday - Santa Cruz Island

Breakfast on La Pinta
Disembark
Buses to Rancho Premisias
Lava tube
Los Gemelos
Lunch at Rancho Premisias
Tour of tortoise reserve
Bus to Puerto Ayora
Charles Darwin Research Station
Talks by Carter Hunt and María José Barragán-Paladines -- the CDF Science Director
Dinner at Finch Bay with Zarek
Accommodation: Finch Bay Hotel

+ July 1, 2025 Tuesday - Santa Cruz Island

Breakfast at Finch Bay
Final lecture
Free day
Zarek and I took a cab to Media Luna
Search (successfully) for Galápagos rails
Closing comments by Hannah and Dena
Evolution song
YELs' slide show
Farewell dinner at Finch Bay
Accommodation: Finch Bay Hotel

+ July 2, 2025 Wednesday -

Breakfast at Finch Bay - last meal with the group
Goodbye photos
Move out of room
Water taxi to town with the group
Say goodbye to the group and to Zarek
Stanford group departs for airport and onto Guayaquil
Go to National Park Headquarters for annual open house
Meet up with Karl Campbell at Muelle de Darwin at 4:30
Accommodation: Costa del Sol ($30)

+ July 3, 2025 Thursday -

Tortuga Bay - early morning walk with Carolina
Accommodation: Costa del Sol

+ July 4, 2025 Friday -

Meet up with Inti Keith and friends at Muelle de Darwin at 6:30
Talked with Roland Digby from Durrell Foundation
Accommodation: Costa del Sol

+ July 5, 2025 Saturday -

Dinner with John Dunn and his group
Accommodation: Costa del Sol

+ July 6, 2025 Sunday -

Tortuga Bay - solo
Las Grietas
Dinner with Carter and Carolina, Nancy and Arturo Izurieta
Accommodation: Costa del Sol

+ July 7, 2025 Monday -

Breakfast at
Shopping in town
Hotel to Itabaca Channel
Fernando - driver recommended by Carter and Carolina
Stop for an hour at Los Gemelles to look unsuccessfully for woodpecker finch and vermillion flycatcher
Ferry to Baltra ($1)
Bus to Airport ($2.50 - tercer edad)
Baltra to Guayaquil
Met by Hotel Shuttle driver
Photograph khoi at airport
Accommodation: Hotel Colon, Guayaquil

+ July 8, 2025 Tuesday -

Breakfast at Hotel Colon
Hotel Shuttle to Airport - 9 am shuttle
Photograph plants and fish at the airport
Guayaquil to Panama City - Tocumen
The Penguin Lessons - movie on plane
Panama City to SFO
Clear customs rapidly with Global Entry
Wendy picked me up at the airport
Accommodation: home

Lecture topics, etc

+ For the kids - what are you most excited to see - June 26, 2025 morning at the end of the welcome orientation (Quito - Go Quito Hotel)
+ Sources of enchantment: the Galápagos in time and space - June 26, 2025 late afternoon before reception (Quito - Go Quito Hotel)
+ Tales of enchantment: appreciating the natural history of the Galápagos - June 28, 2025 late afternoon before dinner (Aboard La Pinta - near San Cristobal)
+ Tales of enchantment: appreciating the natural history of the Galápagos - June 30, 2025 (Aboard La Pinta - near Espanola)
+ The future of enchantment: Galápagos conservation and threats - July 2, 2025 morning (Finch Bay Hotel - under the pergola)
+ Evolution song - July 2, 2025 afternoon before the slide show and dinner (Finch Bay Hotel - under the pergola)

Grand adventure 2025

On June 17, 2025, I departed on a grand summer adventure that involved three parts.

I flew to Quito, meeting Zarek in Houston, then we we fly together to Quito The next morning we headed to El Monte Lodge.

Then two night in Quito.

Then the Stanford Travel/Study Family Adventure in the Galápagos.
On July 2, 2025, I said goodbye to Zarek and the group.
I spent the next six extra nights in the Galápagos and traveling home including five nights on Santa Cruz and a night in Guayaquil in transit.

Acknowledgements
+ I would like to acknowledge all the many many people who contributed in some positive way to this great adventure.
+ Each segment of the trip had different people who contributed in important ways.

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Other Ecuador pages
+ Ecuador 2025
+ Ecuador 2024
+ Ecuador 2022
+ Ecuador 2018
+ Ecuador 017
+ Ecuador 2015
+ Ecuador 2015 people
+ Ecuador 2010
+ Ecuador 2010 people
+ Darwin's adventures in the Galápagos
+ Boobies
+ Quito 2025
+ Quito 2022
+ Quito 2018
+ Quito 2015
+ Quito 2010
+ Galápagos 2025 - trip 8
+ Galápagos 2024 - trip 7
+ Galápagos 2022 - trip 6
+ Galápagos 2018 - trip 5
+ Galápagos 2017 - trip 4
+ Galápagos 2015 - trip 3
+ Galápagos 2010 - trip 2
+ Galápagos people 2010

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Last modified: July 28, 2025
Created: June 16 2025 (from ecuador2024.html)
Contact: siegelr@stanford.edu
All pictures are protected by copyright. Do not use without permission.