Bartolomé & James

This morning we had an early wake-up call and went for our heart pumping visit to Bartolomé before breakfast. The island looks so wonderful with its bits of vegetation turned green since it has been raining. We saw endemic plants such as tequila, lava, cactus and sedges, etc.

Bartolomé is small, but one of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes that look like a Mars-moonscape. This place is a book that you open and learn how the earth forms and weathers. With its volcanic cones appearing everywhere, pieces of rock lie all over as if they fell from the sky.

Everyone was very happy when they reached the summit and finally took the photos they have seen in books, magazines and videos. Right after this, our dinghies picked us up and took us back to the National Geographic Endeavour. After such a wonderful walk, a well deserved breakfast was waiting for us which we all enjoyed very much.

While we were having our breakfast, Cindy gave us a review of the morning activities so we could get ready. We put on our wet suits and went to the golden beach at Bartolomé; some of the guests walked across the dune and saw how the Pacific green sea turtles had come up the previous night to dig their nests and lay their eggs.

We also had the option to snorkel and saw baby black tip reef sharks, Sting rays, white tipped sharks and a good variety of fish. Another option was the glass bottom boat and some people took it and had fun.

At mid day we were all back on board and soon the ship weighed anchor and motored towards Puerto Egas, James Island. Once we got there a couple of groups went to visit Puerto Egas, and the rest took the snorkeling option and we saw sea turtles, white reef sharks, moray eels, blue chin parrot fish, moorish idols and spotted eagle rays.

Back on board after a nice shower we all got together and had drinks with a nice sun set. Later Captain Fausto Hinojosa proposed a farewell toast to the guests and then each one of them participated and said touching words about their experience which turned out to be a trip of lifetime for many.