Galapagos during Covid-19

We have to leave Galapagos today otherwise we won’t be able to go home. Covid-19 finally reached Galapagos and my group has to go back to their home-countries. Airports are shutting down all over the world. It is better for everyone to be home. The world is shutting down and so are we.

Living in Galápagos is a lifestyle worthwhile to experience. The town though growing fast is still a town, where you meet the same people on and on every day, mostly friends. Not to be surprised that by the end of the day we have a group of mums having a drink with kids nearby playing, scientists having a cup of coffee with their team, fishermen coming back to sell their catch, park rangers going back home after a busy day of hard work supporting conservation.

The end of the day is very busy and the best part of it takes place during the “Ecua-Volley” game at the main park “Parque San Francisco”. I love this part of the day, time when misunderstandings are forgotten and all that matters are the game.

Five in the afternoon the day is almost over, the town buzzles, local food vendors coming into the park to sell delicious snacks, all of them saying that Galapagos is part of Ecuador and amongst them visitors from all over the world going back to their floating homes or simply coming to enjoy the peer before sunset to watch sea lions taking over the benches, marine iguanas gathering before the temperature drops and pelicans perching by the peer, railings the work perfectly as a view point to catch a good fish, small sharks attracted by the light and perhaps sea turtles and rays passing by.

Is march 15, 2020 the world is shutting down and so is Galapagos, all of a sudden everybody is locked down. We knew it was coming sooner or later, but not in the way that the entire world simply entered mode mute.

Tourism is a demanding industry, to welcome visitors we have to be trained constantly, guides, skippers, chefs, hotel service, it is a matter of continuous investment. Hotels improving their facilities, boats have to be safe, we all had put our money with expectations of a good year, but the world just shut down.

Some galapagueños were economically prepared, the majority weren’t, but this was not the problem. Being the islands far from the mainland and still dependent in many ways food was the main issue. Nothing was coming from the mainland for several weeks, and supplies were disappearing from the local businesses little by little, beaches were closed. The order is stay home!

What is it going to happen then? The islands do not have a sophisticated health care, staying home is the solution for the moment. The main industry is Tourism, who knows when we will be active again.

What is it going to happen then? The first days of the Pandemic will be a challenge, the islands are 1.000 kms away from the mainland and lots of goods and supplies have to be shipped or flown in. Everybody realized something had to be done until the government figures out a new logistics. SOLIDARITY! Islanders reacted in many incredible ways, fishermen gave fish away to the inhabitants, farmers whatever they had harvested that day, some tour companies also helped with food, and others got together to make the packets for each family, the main goal was to eat.

People began to share. Chats of all kinds flourished, from urban agriculture, to food delivery, others improvised a restaurant in their garage or simply trade.

Eventually airplanes with supplies began to arrive, a sight of relieve, but still the streets once buoyant of human activities were silent.

Nature though reminded all of us where we were, one-day sea lions were seen walking along the streets, dolphins showed up in the bay. Moments that reminded everybody the fun of being on the islands, smiling emoticons appeared below the well shared photos.

Some businesses closed and other had to reinvent themselves, new entrepreneurs showed up, the face of the main streets Charles Darwin and Baltra changed a little bit and now some visitors are coming back, slowly, not yet the way it was, who knows when will that be or if it will be the same.

The only thing we know for sure that this can happen again and we… will be prepared!