Bartholomew & Santiago Islands
Our last day of this week's expedition was full of different activities. Very early in the morning we climbed up all the way to the summit of Bartholomew Island. We took advantage of the beautiful and warm early morning light for photography. Bartholomew Island, with the magnificent view of the world-famous Pinnacle rock and the two gold sandy beaches surrounded by bright blue waters, has become a trademark and one of the most photographed landscapes of the Galápagos.
After breakfast we had different options that allowed everyone to have an opportunity to explore the island in various ways. A short walk crossed a dune to the southern side of Bartholomew; once there we spotted some white tipped reef sharks that were slowly swimming very close to the shore and a Galápagos hawk that was spectacular.
After navigating along the northern side of Santiago Island we reached its western coast. We walked along the coastline of Puerto Egas and encountered many marine iguanas returning to the warm lava rocks where they rest together in large numbers. Several male Galápagos sea lions were observed as well, resting and relaxing on the beach.
The last rays of the sun brought golden red light over the hills as the clouds turned a pink color, performing a great sunset! This week, for all of us, has been great, fun and inspiring. All the memories and feelings we accumulated through this week made us realize that there is hope in this world. There are still a few remote paradises on our planet like the Galápagos that are still largely untouched. With all the continuous conservation work and dedication of everyone who cares for the Galápagos, the Islands will continue to thrill travelers for generations to come.
Our last day of this week's expedition was full of different activities. Very early in the morning we climbed up all the way to the summit of Bartholomew Island. We took advantage of the beautiful and warm early morning light for photography. Bartholomew Island, with the magnificent view of the world-famous Pinnacle rock and the two gold sandy beaches surrounded by bright blue waters, has become a trademark and one of the most photographed landscapes of the Galápagos.
After breakfast we had different options that allowed everyone to have an opportunity to explore the island in various ways. A short walk crossed a dune to the southern side of Bartholomew; once there we spotted some white tipped reef sharks that were slowly swimming very close to the shore and a Galápagos hawk that was spectacular.
After navigating along the northern side of Santiago Island we reached its western coast. We walked along the coastline of Puerto Egas and encountered many marine iguanas returning to the warm lava rocks where they rest together in large numbers. Several male Galápagos sea lions were observed as well, resting and relaxing on the beach.
The last rays of the sun brought golden red light over the hills as the clouds turned a pink color, performing a great sunset! This week, for all of us, has been great, fun and inspiring. All the memories and feelings we accumulated through this week made us realize that there is hope in this world. There are still a few remote paradises on our planet like the Galápagos that are still largely untouched. With all the continuous conservation work and dedication of everyone who cares for the Galápagos, the Islands will continue to thrill travelers for generations to come.
