Jan 21 Day One

We left Hotel Quito after a good breakfast. We were escorted to the airport by a GAP rep who arranged for our boarding passes and we checked our bags. Last night we put what we wanted to take with us in GAP canvas bags and left the rest of our stuff at the hotel. We landed on Baltra Island at Baltra Airport (I've seen bigger bus stations in small towns) and were met by another GAP rep. We were put on a bus for a short ride and then a short "ferry" ride to Santa Cruz Island. It was raining and I got soaked but I was wearing my quick dry pants and a cotton shirt so no worries. We then took a number of Toyota trucks (there were 10 of us) across the island to Port Ayota. The land and vegetation at sea level makes you wonder why anybody ever stopped there. It was sparse and bleak and very grey. However, as we went up in elevation it got greener, more plants, flowers and eventually some evidence of farms (primitive, but farms). Santa Cruz is one of a few of the islands that has human permanent population. Back down to sea level and it got bleaker again. Another GAP rep met us and we were taken by panga (inflatable boats) to GAP 5, our new home.