Tripatini contributor Linda Cooper writes:

¨Marine tortoise sightings were a regular occurrence as we swam past them grazing, while rays glided directly below. Perhaps the most special memory of all was swimming in unison with a giant sea turtle for what felt like an eternity. I slowed my pace to a languid breast stroke to stay directly above it as it casually purveyed his surroundings, our distance less than a foot at times, I consciously made room to accommodate as it occasionally came up for air. It was magical.¨

Read more in her post A Luxury Cruise Through Ecuador´s Iconic Galápagos Islands.