Bartolome & Puerto Egas, Santiago Island
This was our first full day in Galápagos! Yesterday afternoon we visited North Seymour Island and had a marvelous introduction to the plants and wildlife of this unique archipelago. We observed and photographed over a dozen species of the most enigmatic of Galápagos creatures: sea lions, blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, marine and land iguanas, Darwin finches of several species, and yellow warblers, to name just a few.
While we slept we navigated west and by midnight were anchored off the small islet of Bartolome; we spent a peaceful night and all got a great night’s sleep. Dawn was cool and cloudy and I gave an optional early wake-up call at 0600. We munched fresh fruit and apple bread, had a good cup of coffee (or cocoa, for the children) and by 0630 were disembarking on a small concrete pier for our climb to the summit of Bartolome. We learned about geology as we followed a wooden boardwalk and the 372 steps to the top. Our Naturalists pointed out cinder cones, lava tunnels and several species of pioneer plants that have established on this arid and barren island. The view from the summit was spectacular and well worth the climb!
In the late morning, after we had enjoyed a bountiful breakfast, discussed snorkeling safety and been fitted with snorkeling gear, we disembarked on a lovely golden sand, crescent beach. We hiked across a sand dune to the south beach and found two large female turtles in the shallow water and fresh sea turtle tracks on the beach. I hiked to the end of the beach, counting turtle tracks, to where a pair of oyster catchers have been incubating eggs for three weeks. The eggs should be hatching soon, so I check them each week.
We swam and snorkeled from the landing beach; there were many, many species of fish to be seen today! Black striped salema, yellow tailed razor fish, brilliantly colored king angel fish, pastel blue-chin parrot fish, tiny red cardinal fish in schools along the cliff… The list of what we saw goes on and on. Some of us snorkeled with a penguin, three sharks and a half dozen sea lions. What a great snorkel outing in calm, crystal clear water!
Back on board by noon, the Captain had our Boatswain haul up the anchor and we set off to the north and west for Puerto Egas on Santiago Island. Lunch today was an extravagant affair: we sampled traditional Ecuadorian dishes from both the coast and Andes regions. A siesta was next on our schedule; the kids who did not want a nap worked on their journals, played cards in the lounge, or chatted and watched the frigate birds and storm petrels glide along with us above and behind the ship.
By 1530 we were anchored, and the four Zodiacs had been lowered, from where they are stored on the Teak Deck. The snorkeling enthusiasts among us had a second opportunity to explore the underwater realm of Galápagos from the black sand beach at Puerto Egas. Although the visibility was not quite as good as it had been in the morning, we were delighted to find sea turtles, a shark and sea lions in the cool and turbulent water.
A mile and a half long trail for our afternoon hike followed the rugged coast and then turned inland. We found more sea lions – several tiny pups – and shorebirds (two more oystercatcher nests), and at the end of the path, the Galápagos fur seals. As we returned to the ship at dusk, we had a fabulous sunset, a fitting end to a fantastic day.
This was our first full day in Galápagos! Yesterday afternoon we visited North Seymour Island and had a marvelous introduction to the plants and wildlife of this unique archipelago. We observed and photographed over a dozen species of the most enigmatic of Galápagos creatures: sea lions, blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, marine and land iguanas, Darwin finches of several species, and yellow warblers, to name just a few.
While we slept we navigated west and by midnight were anchored off the small islet of Bartolome; we spent a peaceful night and all got a great night’s sleep. Dawn was cool and cloudy and I gave an optional early wake-up call at 0600. We munched fresh fruit and apple bread, had a good cup of coffee (or cocoa, for the children) and by 0630 were disembarking on a small concrete pier for our climb to the summit of Bartolome. We learned about geology as we followed a wooden boardwalk and the 372 steps to the top. Our Naturalists pointed out cinder cones, lava tunnels and several species of pioneer plants that have established on this arid and barren island. The view from the summit was spectacular and well worth the climb!
In the late morning, after we had enjoyed a bountiful breakfast, discussed snorkeling safety and been fitted with snorkeling gear, we disembarked on a lovely golden sand, crescent beach. We hiked across a sand dune to the south beach and found two large female turtles in the shallow water and fresh sea turtle tracks on the beach. I hiked to the end of the beach, counting turtle tracks, to where a pair of oyster catchers have been incubating eggs for three weeks. The eggs should be hatching soon, so I check them each week.
We swam and snorkeled from the landing beach; there were many, many species of fish to be seen today! Black striped salema, yellow tailed razor fish, brilliantly colored king angel fish, pastel blue-chin parrot fish, tiny red cardinal fish in schools along the cliff… The list of what we saw goes on and on. Some of us snorkeled with a penguin, three sharks and a half dozen sea lions. What a great snorkel outing in calm, crystal clear water!
Back on board by noon, the Captain had our Boatswain haul up the anchor and we set off to the north and west for Puerto Egas on Santiago Island. Lunch today was an extravagant affair: we sampled traditional Ecuadorian dishes from both the coast and Andes regions. A siesta was next on our schedule; the kids who did not want a nap worked on their journals, played cards in the lounge, or chatted and watched the frigate birds and storm petrels glide along with us above and behind the ship.
By 1530 we were anchored, and the four Zodiacs had been lowered, from where they are stored on the Teak Deck. The snorkeling enthusiasts among us had a second opportunity to explore the underwater realm of Galápagos from the black sand beach at Puerto Egas. Although the visibility was not quite as good as it had been in the morning, we were delighted to find sea turtles, a shark and sea lions in the cool and turbulent water.
A mile and a half long trail for our afternoon hike followed the rugged coast and then turned inland. We found more sea lions – several tiny pups – and shorebirds (two more oystercatcher nests), and at the end of the path, the Galápagos fur seals. As we returned to the ship at dusk, we had a fabulous sunset, a fitting end to a fantastic day.
