Bartolomé & Puerto Egas, Santiago Island
This morning found us peacefully swinging at anchor off the spectacular and famous pinnacle rock of the small islet of Bartolomé. I gave a (hopefully) cheery early wake up call and we loaded into the Zodiacs for a dry disembarkation on a tiny cement dock where we found bright Sally Lightfoot crabs and resting marine iguanas. We followed a boardwalk and wooden stairs up the slopes of the islet and viewed varied geological features: lava tubes, cinder, spatter and tuff cones. We saw only a few species of pioneer plants that can inhabit this dry landscape and several lava lizards. The magnificent vista from the summit was worth every deep breath and extra beat of our hearts!
After breakfast, a snorkel safety briefing and distribution of snorkeling equipment, we disembarked on a small golden, crescent beach. We hiked over a sand dune to a larger beach where we observed sea turtles in the surf, diving blue-footed boobies and red ghost crabs feeding in the sand of the low tide. Back at the landing beach we suited up for our first snorkel outing. Wow!! We were delighted with the great variety of colorful schooling fish and were amazed by the curiosity of the sea lions and penguins who swam alongside us with underwater grace and agility.
After lunch we took advantage of the latino traditional “siesta” and then I spoke about the uniqueness of these “islas encantadas.” By 1530 we had dropped our anchor off the northwestern shore of Santiago Island and we headed to shore for a wet landing on the black sand. The tide was high and we had to negotiate breaking waves to disembark and to enter the water to snorkel. But the determined snorkelers were rewarded for their efforts with excellent views of huge sea turtles, pastel parrot fish and twirling sea lions.
We took a hike along the coast and found piles of resting marine iguanas, sea lions of all ages and several species of shore birds. Even I was thrilled when we spotted a tiny baby oystercatcher who was being closely watched by his parents. We have seen this cute bird since he was an egg and it is a joy to know that he is successfully growing and thriving week after week. The waves filled and foamed in grottos and broken lava tubes along the shore and this was a fabulous walk. As the sky and dotted clouds turned from blue and white to orange and then salmon pink and purplish grey we returned contentedly to the Islander.
This morning found us peacefully swinging at anchor off the spectacular and famous pinnacle rock of the small islet of Bartolomé. I gave a (hopefully) cheery early wake up call and we loaded into the Zodiacs for a dry disembarkation on a tiny cement dock where we found bright Sally Lightfoot crabs and resting marine iguanas. We followed a boardwalk and wooden stairs up the slopes of the islet and viewed varied geological features: lava tubes, cinder, spatter and tuff cones. We saw only a few species of pioneer plants that can inhabit this dry landscape and several lava lizards. The magnificent vista from the summit was worth every deep breath and extra beat of our hearts!
After breakfast, a snorkel safety briefing and distribution of snorkeling equipment, we disembarked on a small golden, crescent beach. We hiked over a sand dune to a larger beach where we observed sea turtles in the surf, diving blue-footed boobies and red ghost crabs feeding in the sand of the low tide. Back at the landing beach we suited up for our first snorkel outing. Wow!! We were delighted with the great variety of colorful schooling fish and were amazed by the curiosity of the sea lions and penguins who swam alongside us with underwater grace and agility.
After lunch we took advantage of the latino traditional “siesta” and then I spoke about the uniqueness of these “islas encantadas.” By 1530 we had dropped our anchor off the northwestern shore of Santiago Island and we headed to shore for a wet landing on the black sand. The tide was high and we had to negotiate breaking waves to disembark and to enter the water to snorkel. But the determined snorkelers were rewarded for their efforts with excellent views of huge sea turtles, pastel parrot fish and twirling sea lions.
We took a hike along the coast and found piles of resting marine iguanas, sea lions of all ages and several species of shore birds. Even I was thrilled when we spotted a tiny baby oystercatcher who was being closely watched by his parents. We have seen this cute bird since he was an egg and it is a joy to know that he is successfully growing and thriving week after week. The waves filled and foamed in grottos and broken lava tubes along the shore and this was a fabulous walk. As the sky and dotted clouds turned from blue and white to orange and then salmon pink and purplish grey we returned contentedly to the Islander.
