Wishing a slightly belated New Year's greetings to all of my blog readers! Another year has gone by in which I didn't manage to write a single blog post. Well, that's not entirely true, as I continue to create and update content on the Galapagos Surf Discovery website on a regular basis. When you're an independent business owner and are responsible for running an entire company, there's little time for much of anything that's not work-related. That also means that 2024 was the first year that I did not set foot outside of the Galapagos Islands; I didn't even go to continental Ecuador. As of today (January 5) I have been on the islands for 586 consecutive days!
With that as an intro, here's a month-by-month recap of some of the highlights (and a few of the not-so-great moments) of the year that was.
January
10 - The Campbells arrived in San Cristobal for their annual month-long visit. While we are usually pretty busy with tours during this time, we love cooking meals together, going on walks, visiting with friends, and just hanging out playing dominoes and other games on our fourth floor terrace.
 |
| Enjoying the sunset from our terrace in San Cristobal |
February
5 - Fabian and I flew to Isabela with the Campbells and walked to the Wall of Tears, did the Sulphur Mines volcano hike and the Los Túneles excursion by boat. We flew back to San Cristobal on the 7th. A few days later, the plane we had been on for both flights had a mechanical failure during takeoff from SCY, made an emergency landing on the water, and quickly sank to the bottom of the ocean. Thankfully the pilot and passengers were rescued with no injuries.
 |
| Us at Sierra Negra Volcano Sulphur Mines |
19 - GALAPAGOS SURFDISCOVERY S.A.S. was officially registered with The Superintendency of Companies, Securities and Insurance, the technical body that oversees and controls the organization, activities, operation, dissolution and liquidation of companies and other entities under the circumstances and conditions established by law in Ecuador.
25 - I went to Isla Lobos on a familiarization (FAM) trip with our clients Sandy and Ellie. During this week we had multiple clients visiting San Cristobal and were able to organize some unique activities for them with the support of the local Chamber of Tourism (CATURCRIST).
26 - Fabian and I started training for IRF (International Rafting Federation) certification. We completed one week of online classes followed by one week of intensive practical training and graduated on March 8.
29 - I ordered five paddleboards directly from a U.S. manufacturer who said they would handle all logistics for shipping them to Galapagos. After an unbelievable amount of drama with Ecuador customs, fines, threats of a lawsuit, etc. they were finally delivered to our door in San Cristobal on April 17. One month after that, we (Galapagos Surf Discovery in conjunction with Islanders Store) were granted full permission by Galapagos National Park and the local port authority to operate SUP tours in addition to our kayak tours.
March
16 - We hosted our first "dinner with the locals" in which Fabian and I prepare a meal with as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible for clients of Come To Galapagos. This is now a regular feature of their custom island-hopping tours.
April
2 - Galapagos Surf Discovery was officially registered with MINTUR, the Ministry of Tourism in Ecuador, as a licensed travel agency and tour operator.
May
22 - Our construction permit for "Plaza Comercial Surf Discovery" was approved by the local authorities.
 |
| Render of the building based on the original plans |
June
1 - The latest edition of Lonely Planet Ecuador guidebook was published. Fabian is featured in a sidebar about surfing in Galapagos.
6 - After months of online training and assignments, both Fabian (representing Galapagos Surf Discovery) and I (representing Galapagos Brewery Project, a sports bar concept) were notified that we had been selected as finalists in Emprende Turismo Ecuador, a program that promotes the creation, implementation and consolidation of innovative ventures with potential for development and growth.
10 - We broke ground on the construction of Plaza Comercial Surf Discovery.
12 - Fabian's 50th birthday; we celebrated on the 15th with a cookout with friends on our terrace.
30 - The Campbells arrived in San Cristobal for a last-minute 10-day visit.
July
3 - I went on a day trip to Española (Punta Suarez and Bahía Gardner) with the Campbells.
12- My 50th birthday; we celebrated a few days early with the Campbells and then my friend Christina treated me to lunch on the day of.
27 - The crew poured the first floor foundation for Plaza Comercial Surf Discovery.
August
31 - The crew poured the second floor foundation for Plaza Comercial Surf Discovery.
September
5 - I started having severe neck pain. It came out of nowhere and by the following day I was forced to stay in bed as it restricted almost all my upper body movement. It continued to get worse so I went to the emergency room in the early morning of the 7th. I was treated with IV pain killers and muscle relaxants and sent home with instructions to follow up with the trauma doctor (we don't have specialists here). After multiple evaluations and X-rays, they said my cervical spine is compressed and lacks the proper curve. Every doctor who sees the imaging asks "Were you in a car accident?"
26 - The crew poured the third floor foundation for Plaza Comercial Surf Discovery.
October
1 - I started daily physical therapy at the hospital. As of this writing in early January 2025, I continue to go to PT as often as possible. They have tried various types of treatments: magnet, laser, ultrasound, electrical nerve stimulation (TENS unit), whirlpool, massage, and home exercises. My condition has not improved i.e. I'm in constant mild to moderate discomfort and sometimes severe pain. The physiatrist, general practitioner, and trauma doc have urged me to get an MRI but that requires flying to continental Ecuador. Hopefully I can coordinate a trip in March.
17 - Installation of the PANELEGO walls continues for Plaza Comercial Surf Discovery.
November
12 - Fabian and I took a FAM trip to Española to try a new-to-us itinerary: Playa Manzanilla, Islote Tortuga, and Punta Cevallos.
15 - Structural work is essentially complete on Plaza Comercial Surf Discovery.
21-24 I flew to Isabela on a FAM trip with the Come To Galapagos crew and did several tours: Tintoreras; Los Túneles + Playa Cormorán; Sierra Negra; and had an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Hauser's.
December
13 - The crew finished installing the glass roof for Plaza Commercial Surf Discovery. The project now enters the final phase of construction.
18 - Fabian and I received our certificates of completion for Emprende Turismo. While neither of us was chosen to receive seed capital, the business training and one-on-one mentoring we received during the second half of the program was invaluable.
23 - I went on a FAM trip to Isla Lobos to try out another boat/operator and assess the trail conditions.
31 - The crew cleans up the third floor of Plaza Comercial Surf Discovery and connects some provisional lighting so we can toast the new year in style.
Summary
I scanned my personal calendar for all of 2024 and apart from the Campbell's visits and some gatherings or meals with local friends and attending a few local events, there are just reminders to call friends/family in the U.S., birthdays and graduations missed, annotations of changes in the weather, reminders to do laundry or take out the trash, pay bills, etc.
My business calendar on the other hand is packed with all of the tours and transport I booked for clients along with the tours that Fabian and/or I personally operated; work-related meetings; training; accounting/legal meetings and deadlines; construction meetings, milestones, and payment deadlines; and never-ending To Do lists.
My phone's camera roll tells a similar story: daily construction progress, design renders, samples, and cargo bills; clients and tour info; local wildlife and scenery; food and friends.
In short, it was a very busy year and 2025 is off to a big start!
I am so thankful for the love and support from my family, without whom all of this wouldn't be possible. Thanks to my friends for your patience and understanding as I try to find balance in these crazy times. And thanks to our clients, many of whom we now call friends, for entrusting me/us with any and all aspects of your Galapagos vacation.
Galapagos Surf Discovery's 2024 by the numbers
- 784+ tours or transport sold via 250 unique reservations, all coordinated and managed by Alethea
- 176+ tours/activities personally lead by Fabian and/or Alethea
