Bartolome and Santiago Islands
Early this morning, we started our expedition with a walk to the top of Bartolome Island. Due to its interesting and beautiful volcanic formations, this very small island (0.5 square miles) is a paradise for geology enthusiasts. Spatter cones are spread all over the island, giving it a magical resemblance with the moon. The extraordinary view that we enjoyed from the summit was breathtaking! The contrast of young black lava flows were also observed on the nearby Santiago Island. The Pinnacle Rock, an odd-looking tuff cone, stands out in one of the bays of Bartolome. This interesting formation is probably the best known volcanic formation in the Galápagos Islands.
The weather conditions around Bartolome Island were ideal, and as the sun started to shine, the waters around the island started to reveal a beautiful light blue color, as well. Red mangroves and thorn bushes by the beach added a touch of green, which together with the golden sand made an artistic combination.
Snorkeling activities were offered, and they were highly successful, too. Many different colorful fish species were observed. Galápagos, white tipped reef sharks and even a large spotted eagle ray were observed as well. Many of our guests mentioned that they had an experience of a lifetime.
In the afternoon, we visited Santiago Island. A relaxing walk along the shoreline occupied most of the afternoon. A pretty low tide allowed us to explore the partially covered lava coastline. It was a great opportunity to observe marine iguanas eating algae from the rocks. Striated herons were busy fishing in the intertidal pools. At the end and with the company of the sunset, we came back onboard to share our new experiences and discoveries.
Early this morning, we started our expedition with a walk to the top of Bartolome Island. Due to its interesting and beautiful volcanic formations, this very small island (0.5 square miles) is a paradise for geology enthusiasts. Spatter cones are spread all over the island, giving it a magical resemblance with the moon. The extraordinary view that we enjoyed from the summit was breathtaking! The contrast of young black lava flows were also observed on the nearby Santiago Island. The Pinnacle Rock, an odd-looking tuff cone, stands out in one of the bays of Bartolome. This interesting formation is probably the best known volcanic formation in the Galápagos Islands.
The weather conditions around Bartolome Island were ideal, and as the sun started to shine, the waters around the island started to reveal a beautiful light blue color, as well. Red mangroves and thorn bushes by the beach added a touch of green, which together with the golden sand made an artistic combination.
Snorkeling activities were offered, and they were highly successful, too. Many different colorful fish species were observed. Galápagos, white tipped reef sharks and even a large spotted eagle ray were observed as well. Many of our guests mentioned that they had an experience of a lifetime.
In the afternoon, we visited Santiago Island. A relaxing walk along the shoreline occupied most of the afternoon. A pretty low tide allowed us to explore the partially covered lava coastline. It was a great opportunity to observe marine iguanas eating algae from the rocks. Striated herons were busy fishing in the intertidal pools. At the end and with the company of the sunset, we came back onboard to share our new experiences and discoveries.
