Swimming with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands

For years we’ve wanted to visit the Galapagos Islands.

During our big trip to South America, we visited them twice, each time leading our very own Nomadic Boys gay Galapagos Cruise. It truly exceeded all our expectations.

Whilst the raw nature and rich wildlife of the Galapagos Islands is truly remarkable, the standout highlight was the sea lion pups. Their curiosity and friendly, approachable demeanor tugged at our heartstrings! They are like puppies who just want to play with you.

Snorkeling with sea lion pups in the Galapagos Islands is a memory that will stay with us forever.

Here's why…

“Will you play with us, hooman?”

Sea lion babes are the puppies of the ocean. They swim all day long, playing, and chasing each other in the water. Then they head to the beach to dry off, posing in the sunshine as if begging to be photographed by adoring tourists like us…not too dissimilar to my Stefan when he hits the beach in his tight white Speedos…

We visited the Galapagos Islands as part of a gay cruise with 12 other gay guys.

After flying into Balta airport from mainland Ecuador we boarded the M/Y Passion yacht and spent the next week cruising the Galapagos, waking up each morning to a new island.

If you’re on a budget, you can instead base yourself on the main (inhabited) island, Santa Cruz, and visit the other islands via the public ferry. However, as most islands are uninhabited, you’ll have to return to Santa Cruz before nightfall, limiting your time exploring each island. By comparison, a cruise in the Galapagos enables you to visit the more remote islands at your leisure and stay near them overnight.

This trip was a dream. We saw giant tortoises, land iguanas, marine iguanas, penguins, oh so many different birds, turtles, flamingos, sharks, and manta rays. We were awestruck by incredible landscapes crafted by years of volcanic eruptions and tectonic plate movements…

But amongst all those impressive feats, the standout highlight for us in the Galapagos Islands was the sea lion pups.

I have never seen anything cuter in my life.

Every day we would snorkel around the island we’d just visited. The resident sea lion pups would always swim out to investigate us.

A strict ‘Six Feet' (2ish meters) rule is enforced in the Galapagos – i.e., you must stay at least 6 feet distance from all wildlife. But with the sea lions pups, this rule goes flying out the window. They don’t care for human rules! They are so curious that they’d swim right up to us, and nibble at our fins as if begging us to come and play with them.

On our third day snorkeling, we spotted a small colony of sea lions swimming by the rocks. We carefully approached to investigate. Two of the colony’s pups came over to us and started to dance around us. I swam with them, doing loops in the water. Then they swam down to pick up an unassuming sea cucumber. Using their snouts, they passed the poor sea cucumber to each other – as if playing volleyball!

At one point one of the pups tossed the sea cucumber over to me.

I was startled! What do I do?

The two pups just looked at me expectantly waiting for my reaction.

I realized they just wanted me to join in, so I carefully passed the sea cucumber back to one of them. I could have sworn he giggled as he received it from me!

The pups continued playing with the sea cucumber while doing loops around us in the water, but we had to eventually leave them to return to the yacht.

What an epic afternoon!

Our most memorable moments from our travels come from interactions we have with locals. In the uninhabited islands of the Galapagos, those locals are not humans, but sea lion pups. They welcomed us to their land and captivated us with their curiosity!

…they even waved us off as our plane left the tarmac at Baltra airport on our final day – although that could have also been the effect of drinking one too many canelazos before boarding. Either way, sea lion pups rock!

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Top experiences in Ecuador for gay travelers

The Galapagos Islands's captivating beauty and unique wildlife left us in awe. However, we were pleasantly surprised to discover Ecuador had much more to offer beyond these enchanting islands. The country's diverse landscapes, from the dramatic Andes mountains to the inviting beaches and the lush Amazon jungle, offered us a tapestry of unforgettable experiences.

Ecuador is also gay friendly with progressive LGBTQ rights. In 2019, the introduction of gay marriage marked a momentous step forward for equality. The existence of anti-discrimination laws since 1998 showcases the country's longstanding commitment to inclusivity. Ecuador’s tourism industry coupled with its close ties to the USA has made it a popular destination for gay expats. Read more about gay life in Ecuador in our interview with Mario from Quito, which was also featured in the Huffington Post.

Throughout our time in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, we felt completely at ease and accepted, never encountering any obstacles or challenges. For more check out our Quito gay travel guide as well as our rundown of the best Galapagos gay cruises. Here are some of our highlights from Ecuador that we recommend you check out.

The Galapagos Islands

The inspiration behind Darwin’s famous book, ‘The Origin of the Species’.

The Galapagos Islands is where over 9,000 species thrive in the wild set on one of the most dramatic backdrops you'll see – crafted by centuries of volcanic activity. There are a handful of companies that offer gay trips to the Galapagos in particular HE Travel (every May), and Out Adventures (May and November). Local gay-owned and gay friendly companies that offer more exclusive gay charters to the Galapagos include Ecuador Nomadic.

The gay scene in Quito

As well as being a charming city to explore, particularly the old town, the Ecuadorian capital has a bustling gay scene that comes alive on weekends.

Our favorite gay clubs to party in Quito are Kika, El Hueco (aka Tercer Milenio), and La Disco Bitch. Read more in our gay Quito travel guide.

Montañita

Coastal town with a Bohemian and liberal vibe. It’s the most popular holiday destination in Ecuador for the LGBTQ community who head here to party at the Merman Beach Club, and Poco Loco.

Amazon Jungle

The gay friendly Sacha Lodge is our top pic for an authentic and rustic jungle experience. It’s hidden away, only accessible by boat.

We got to pick from a range of excursions including caiman spotting, kayaking, and jungle trekking. At one point we jumped into a lake full of piranhas. Contrary to popular belief it’s safe. Our guide assured us that piranhas do not attack humans unless they are provoked or desperate for food. Despite this, we stayed no more than 3 full minutes before briskly getting out!

Swing out into the Andes Mountains in Baños

You will s**t yourself!

The El Vuelo Del Condor (translates to “the flight of the Condor”) is located just outside Baños perched up at 8,500 feet (2,590m) in the Andes. It is literally a swing, attached to two trees. You get in, secured with a safety harness, and then you're released to swing out over the mountains! Let’s just say that the views are just as impressive as the intense rush of adrenaline that you’ll get!

Ecuadorian food

Never encountered it before either, right? How about some llapingachos? That’s the most famous dish – fried stuffed potato patties.

Others include locro de papa (a potato-based soup), hornado roasted pig, fritada de chancho (braised pork dish), and seco de chivo (goat stew). All washed down with a few canelazos – a warm spiced cinnamon-based Ecuadorian cocktail.

Read more about it in our guide to the best foods and drinks in Ecuador and also get inspired by our article about things you didn't know about Ecuador.

For more inspiration:

• Read the story of how Stefan proposed to Seby in Cartagena
• Seby wrote about how we first met back in 2009 in London
• Check out Stefan's story of the Varosi Ghost Town in Famagusta where all of his family is from
• Seby's story about snorkeling with manta rays in the Great Barrier Reef is heartwarming
• Read our story of when we dressed up like geisha in Tokyo…we were beautiful!

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