Bartolome and Santiago Islands
What a grand finale for a spectacular week! Today we got up early for our hike to the summit of Bartolome Island, a beautiful parasitic cone off the eastern coast of Santiago Island. On approach, the early morning sunrays illuminate the ochre colours of the small island. After an easy landing we went along the dusty path that reveals many volcanic features: lava tubes that look like veins run from the higher slopes down to the lower parts of the main cone. The sights of dozens of spatter cones, small craters formed after mild eruptions of very viscous lava, give us the feeling of having landed on the Moon… or maybe Mars? It’s just 372 wooden steps and a fantastic view over Bartolome Island and Sullivan Bay is our reward!
We then made our way to the beach, for it is now the hot season and we really want to make the most of the water activities! A few of us went snorkeling in search of the Galapagos penguins, as it is well known that a little group inhabits the coasts of Bartolome. Others just enjoyed today’s warm sea temperatures: 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Back on board for lunch, the Polaris lifted anchor and we made our way along the northern coast of Santiago Island for our next visit: Puerto Egas. Santiago was an island well known by old seafarers in the past as a hideout place and for careening their ships. Many famous names like Ambrose Cowley, Woodes Rodgers and William Dampier can be linked to this island. Not far away from our landing beach is the basaltic lava flow of James Bay where Charles Darwin set foot in 1835.
It was our turn now to explore James Bay. We walked along the beautiful coastal trail of this part of the island. The area was full of wildlife: Sally light-foot crabs all around us, very active marine iguanas entertained us once more with their territorial behaviour, migratory birds like ruddy turnstones, sanderlings, semi-palmated plovers, amongst others. Among the naturally formed grottos, we were amazed at the numerous fur sea lions resting on the rocks. Some of them showed us their graceful aquatic ballet, as they were cooling themselves after a very hot afternoon. They really made it hard to leave this enchanted island, for it was time to go back on board, and get ready for a new day.
What a grand finale for a spectacular week! Today we got up early for our hike to the summit of Bartolome Island, a beautiful parasitic cone off the eastern coast of Santiago Island. On approach, the early morning sunrays illuminate the ochre colours of the small island. After an easy landing we went along the dusty path that reveals many volcanic features: lava tubes that look like veins run from the higher slopes down to the lower parts of the main cone. The sights of dozens of spatter cones, small craters formed after mild eruptions of very viscous lava, give us the feeling of having landed on the Moon… or maybe Mars? It’s just 372 wooden steps and a fantastic view over Bartolome Island and Sullivan Bay is our reward!
We then made our way to the beach, for it is now the hot season and we really want to make the most of the water activities! A few of us went snorkeling in search of the Galapagos penguins, as it is well known that a little group inhabits the coasts of Bartolome. Others just enjoyed today’s warm sea temperatures: 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Back on board for lunch, the Polaris lifted anchor and we made our way along the northern coast of Santiago Island for our next visit: Puerto Egas. Santiago was an island well known by old seafarers in the past as a hideout place and for careening their ships. Many famous names like Ambrose Cowley, Woodes Rodgers and William Dampier can be linked to this island. Not far away from our landing beach is the basaltic lava flow of James Bay where Charles Darwin set foot in 1835.
It was our turn now to explore James Bay. We walked along the beautiful coastal trail of this part of the island. The area was full of wildlife: Sally light-foot crabs all around us, very active marine iguanas entertained us once more with their territorial behaviour, migratory birds like ruddy turnstones, sanderlings, semi-palmated plovers, amongst others. Among the naturally formed grottos, we were amazed at the numerous fur sea lions resting on the rocks. Some of them showed us their graceful aquatic ballet, as they were cooling themselves after a very hot afternoon. They really made it hard to leave this enchanted island, for it was time to go back on board, and get ready for a new day.
