Bartolomé Island
We had an optional early wake up call to climb up the summit of Bartolomé Island. We all climbed the wooden stairway with more than three hundred and seventy steps to get up to a beautiful viewpoint at the summit of this island. We soaked up information about arrival and establishments of the different pioneer species as well as observed and appreciated the capricious lava formations still “naked” with no vegetation growing on them.
Tiny lava lizards chasing flies were the source of joy in the morning for those who love and respect nature and all living creatures. Once back on board we all geared up for our first experience with snorkeling in the Galápagos Islands. Extraordinarily clear waters were awaiting us at the beach on Bartolome; we saw penguins, white tipped reef sharks, a pelican with chicks and lots of nests of sea turtles on the sand dunes.
The afternoon highlight at Puerto Egas was the double furred Galápagos sea lion, but also at the landing beach we had an amazing time watching some blue-footed boobies plunge diving.
