Bartolome & Santiago Islands
This morning we had an early wake-up call at 6:00am, so we could get ready for our morning visit to the island of Bartolome. The sunrise was spectacular and at 6:30am the Naturalists were ready to take us on a wonderful expedition that started with a dry landing on the dock of Bartolome. The first few yards of the walk were on cinder and the only vegetation we saw was the gray mat or spurge (Chamaesyce sp) and a lonesome Galápagos tomato plant.
As we marched on we could see the fragility of the island, being made mostly of cinder, also known commonly as volcanic ash. The rest of the hike was on a boardwalk and from then on we counted 372 steps all the way to the summit. From the top we had a breathtaking view of the famous Pinnacle rock, Sullivan Bay of Santiago Island and the lunar landscape formed by the surrounding spatter cones.
As soon as we got back on board we had a well-deserved hearty breakfast at the stern of the National Geographic Polaris. By 9:00am we were ready to continue with the morning’s program. We took a short walk over a sand dune to visit a beautiful golden beach where Green backed Pacific sea turtles lay their eggs. After the walk some guests went on a snorkeling adventure that started from the beach. The walk warmed us up so we were eager to go in the water that, by the way, had a very pleasant temperature; unfortunately visibility today was not the best because there were some big waves that stirred up the sandy bottom. Some of us, however, saw a few white tipped reef sharks. At around noon and as soon as we got back on board the National Geographic Polaris, she started her voyage to our next stop: Santiago Island.
After lunch we arrived to Puerto Egas on Santiago Island where we disembarked on a beautiful black beach for our last snorkeling adventure. We saw many colorful fish as well as some sea lions and white tipped reef sharks. For the adventurers that stayed on the black beach we saw a Galápagos penguin sitting on the lava rocks. Our last walk on Santiago was just wonderful; we got to see a group of Galápagos fur seals having a nap inside the grottos. As we walked along the intertidal pools we could see many young Galápagos sea lion pups, an American oyster catcher couple with a tiny chick, Marine iguanas and some migratory bird species, like whimbrels, plovers and sanderlings.
It was late in the afternoon; the sunset was beginning to appear, with Isabela Island on the horizon. Naturalists were trying to get us going, but we had to take the last picture of a sea lion pup. Back on board the National Geographic Polaris we had the Captain’s farewell cocktail, it seemed like just yesterday we had the welcome cocktail and we were all meeting each other. Now it is time to go back to our homes. After this expedition cruise, our lives won’t be the same. We have a new understanding of a great place on Earth, a precious jewel in the Pacific Ocean that will benefit greatly from conservation efforts made by those who come to appreciate its beauty.
To see footage from this day, please click here.
