Already awake, I got up at 05:45 and packed away the remaining items ready for the flight. After 20 minutes we got to airport for 06:40. Maria, who has picked us up previously after the Galapagos trip, was again with us to ensure we caught our flight okay. She asked us how the holiday had been with the exception of the engine trouble, at which point we brought up the fact that the drinks bill was not included in the meal and it would be brought up with Llama Travel on our return to England.

Maria dropped us off at the check-in desk after she’d made sure we had all the documentation we needed and then had a 10 minute wait to get through. It felt like a long wait once we reached the departure lounge as I was feeling dreadful.

We were late boarding the plane, but only 20 minutes late taking off. We arrived in Bonaire around 12:45 local time and disembarked to a very warm, humid day. There was a delay in the flight of about an hour meaning that instead of a quick departure we didn’t leave until 14:30.

What followed was the one of the most uncomfortable flights ever. The effects of food poisoning and a 12+ hour flight do not work well together. What didn’t help though was that the entertainment system was also broken meaning there wasn’t even a distraction.

I don’t really remember what the food on the flight was like and I’m not even sure I actually ate anything. Exhausted, we arrived in Schipol at 04:45 and spent the next hour going through customs.

I took this opportunity though to get a drink and some medication to try and feel better. The flight from Schipol to Birmingham International went a lot better, and by the time we’d parted ways at the airport heading for different trains I was feeling well enough to try eating again.

It had been a rough journey home but the trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands was worthwhile and unforgettable. The diversity of the wildlife and the experience of the diving there was definitely second to none. I would recommend this trip to any who likes wildlife.