Bartolome & Santiago Islands
Birds near your feet, crabs ten inches away from your hands and gorgeous landscapes! That could be only the description of the Galápagos Islands, and yes indeed, here we are experiencing all of the above.
To be in the Galápagos is to find yourself immersed in a dream world. It seems as if the time here did not pass; all this is due to the behaviour of the extraordinary life forms that have evolved throughout millions of years of isolation, basically without the presence of mankind disrupting their ecosystems.
This morning we had the opportunity to visit Bartolomé Island; as we disembarked, sun was shining and a warm breeze welcomed us, but less than twenty minutes later, a dense mist shortened the view to only a few yards away. This “misty” situation is not common to this time of the year, but it is the result of an early cold current arriving into the islands. As the day had progressed, the mist burned off and sun shined once again everywhere!Cold waters in the Galápagos means a bonanza for the hundreds of thousands of sea birds, marine mammals and fish; visitors arrive in the Galápagos attracted to this special ecosystem and to see the famous living laboratory of evolution.
The walk on Bartolomé Island was amazing due to the number of small spatter cones distributed everywhere, making this barren island appear like the moon itself.Pioneer plants and lava lizards are common to be seen struggling for survival in this cindery, barren-looking landscape.
Snorkeling here was a one of a kind experience. The cooler water brings a large number of fish that increases and benefits pelicans and blue-footed boobies when finding their meals. The snorkelers find it very beneficial too, since we could see all of these undersea wanders.
Later on, we disembarked at Puerto Egas on Santiago Island for a walk along the shoreline and to admire the diversity of wild life in the tide pools. This was an incredible area that harboured many species of sea birds and a dramatic coastline. This would be an experience hard to forget!
Birds near your feet, crabs ten inches away from your hands and gorgeous landscapes! That could be only the description of the Galápagos Islands, and yes indeed, here we are experiencing all of the above.
To be in the Galápagos is to find yourself immersed in a dream world. It seems as if the time here did not pass; all this is due to the behaviour of the extraordinary life forms that have evolved throughout millions of years of isolation, basically without the presence of mankind disrupting their ecosystems.
This morning we had the opportunity to visit Bartolomé Island; as we disembarked, sun was shining and a warm breeze welcomed us, but less than twenty minutes later, a dense mist shortened the view to only a few yards away. This “misty” situation is not common to this time of the year, but it is the result of an early cold current arriving into the islands. As the day had progressed, the mist burned off and sun shined once again everywhere!Cold waters in the Galápagos means a bonanza for the hundreds of thousands of sea birds, marine mammals and fish; visitors arrive in the Galápagos attracted to this special ecosystem and to see the famous living laboratory of evolution.
The walk on Bartolomé Island was amazing due to the number of small spatter cones distributed everywhere, making this barren island appear like the moon itself.Pioneer plants and lava lizards are common to be seen struggling for survival in this cindery, barren-looking landscape.
Snorkeling here was a one of a kind experience. The cooler water brings a large number of fish that increases and benefits pelicans and blue-footed boobies when finding their meals. The snorkelers find it very beneficial too, since we could see all of these undersea wanders.
Later on, we disembarked at Puerto Egas on Santiago Island for a walk along the shoreline and to admire the diversity of wild life in the tide pools. This was an incredible area that harboured many species of sea birds and a dramatic coastline. This would be an experience hard to forget!
