Bartolomé and Rábida Islands
The wildlife of the Galápagos Islands is among the most representatives of the planet, and today we experienced more of these wonders as we visited islands at the center of the archipelago: Bartolomé and Rábida. We began the exploration early this morning in order to get a sense of the volcanic structures of Bartolomé Island, and an early hike was the best way to start. The splendor of the place was evident early as a Galápagos sea lion was stretching its neck on the platform were we arrived. Farther along the trail, the marvels of volcanism were there for us: Tuff cones that surrounded the area, little lava tubes that looked like melted chocolate, and spatter cones that made it look as though we were walking a moonscape as we reached the summit of the island. The view of the landscape of Bartolomé with the emblematic Pinnacle Rock at the background was the highlight of the hike.
Once back on board National Geographic Islander, we enjoyed a delightful breakfast before preparing for our next adventure: deep water snorkeling. As we dove into the water, the magnificent undersea world of the Galápagos Islands marine reserve was revealed to us. Reef fish of many different colors surrounded us, Galápagos penguins swam by, and playful Galápagos sea lions were our companions at all moments. An orange sand beach by Pinnacle Rock was the perfect place to relax and watch seabirds gliding overhead.
As snorkeling ended, it was time to pull anchor in order to sail to our next destination: Rábida Island. In the afternoon the exploration only improved, and a pleasant Ecuadorian buffet lunch was the best way to begin it. A combination of numerous splendid activities allowed us to experience what Rábida prepared for our senses: deep water snorkeling, kayaking and swimming. During the deep water snorkeling, a symphony of colors was displayed by the reef fish in the area. As we reached the end of the cliffs, a splendid Pacific green sea turtle looked gentle as it fed on algae from the rocks. After this wonderful activity, we got our gear ready in order to enjoy the hike to Rábida Island.
A wet landing on a marvelous red sand beach was the perfect arrival for a fantastic hike. The vegetation of the area was awe-inspiring — we saw incense trees and Darwin finches were singing all around. As we reached the highest point of the cliffs, a beautiful landscape with National Geographic Islander in the background was a fantastic photo op. As we returned to the beach we were joined by a young Galápagos hawk — it was perfectly contrasted with a few greater flamingos inside a brackish water lagoon. Today we enjoyed a symphony of nature, splendor for our senses — part of the marvels of the Galápagos Islands.
