Bartolome and Santiago Island
It is difficult to describe in few words all the experiences we had this week. At 375 feet above the sea level, the early morning hike to the top of Bartolome showed us a three dimensional map of the Galápagos Archipelago. The moon landscape was dramatic. Nevertheless, nature has painted these islands in an artistic way expressed in the color contrast of its beaches, coffee-colored lava fields, red mangroves and the water. We started our water activities from a golden sandy beach. The ocean current system that surrounds the islands makes the underwater world a paradise! It is hard to believe that at 16 nautical seconds south of the Equator, a volcanic underwater landscape is combined with penguins that came from Peru, sea lions from California, Panamic cushion and chocolate chip sea stars, sea urchins, parrot-fishes, sting rays and sea turtles.
In the afternoon, our landing on a black sandy beach at Santiago Island confirmed how active the islands are. The last eruption on this island was recorded in 1897. Once again the snorkeling was amazing! The marine wildlife was filled with colorful fish, sea turtles that floated near by grazing the algae, and surprisingly, a curious penguin that probably lost its way showed up.
The week could not have finished any better than walking along the coastline. There were sea lion pups nursing while lying on top of the tuffstone landscape sculpted by the wind, an American oystercatcher with its two chicks running around looking for food, and a spectacular sunset behind Isabela Island.
It is difficult to describe in few words all the experiences we had this week. At 375 feet above the sea level, the early morning hike to the top of Bartolome showed us a three dimensional map of the Galápagos Archipelago. The moon landscape was dramatic. Nevertheless, nature has painted these islands in an artistic way expressed in the color contrast of its beaches, coffee-colored lava fields, red mangroves and the water. We started our water activities from a golden sandy beach. The ocean current system that surrounds the islands makes the underwater world a paradise! It is hard to believe that at 16 nautical seconds south of the Equator, a volcanic underwater landscape is combined with penguins that came from Peru, sea lions from California, Panamic cushion and chocolate chip sea stars, sea urchins, parrot-fishes, sting rays and sea turtles.
In the afternoon, our landing on a black sandy beach at Santiago Island confirmed how active the islands are. The last eruption on this island was recorded in 1897. Once again the snorkeling was amazing! The marine wildlife was filled with colorful fish, sea turtles that floated near by grazing the algae, and surprisingly, a curious penguin that probably lost its way showed up.
The week could not have finished any better than walking along the coastline. There were sea lion pups nursing while lying on top of the tuffstone landscape sculpted by the wind, an American oystercatcher with its two chicks running around looking for food, and a spectacular sunset behind Isabela Island.
