Bartholomé & Santiago Island
This wonderful morning our walk was headed to the top of Bartholomé Island. The last volcanic eruption took place 700,000 years ago. It is mainly covered with fine volcanic cinder and very fresh lava flows so it is pleasant and scenic. We found little life but the few plants there were all emblematic: pioneer plants such tequilia made a home for lava lizards, snakes and ants. We walked 372 steps to see the most famous sight of the Galápagos.
A delicious breakfast was the reward for a great morning jaw-dropper. We returned again to the island, with a wet landing on the western beach, for our activities of snorkeling with penguins, hiking the dunes, glass bottom boating and enjoying a sunny day on the sand.
Our lunch included French fries and fried chicken, and everybody enjoyed it. After, our Captain led us in a smooth navigation to Santiago Island where we followed the steps of Charles Darwin, along the coastal area. Like him, pirates and whalers looked for fresh water and land tortoises to fit in their storage rooms, although Darwin wanted to fill his notebooks instead.
Our afternoon was dedicated to exploring one of the most beautiful places in the islands. The Western side of Santiago is rich in marine iguanas, Galápagos Hawks, Darwin finches, Galápagos doves, whimbrels, American oyster catchers, Galápagos sea lions and Galápagos fur sea lions. We particularly enjoyed the smallest fur sea lions in the world.
The sunset was amazing and it closed our wonderful day and our wonderful week in the Galápagos Islands. All our guests are taking beautiful memories back home.
