Bartolome & Santiago Islands
As the sun broke over the spatter cones of Bartolome Island we awoke to the melodic voice of Paula. We donned our hiking gear and headed for the top of the volcano. Through the lava and up the steps we trekked until we reached the lighthouse at 350 feet. From there we could see the morning rays of the sun glinting off the multitude of red and black volcanic cones.
After breakfast we jumped aboard the Pangas with the Zodiac cowboys and zoomed toward the crescent beaches. We spent the morning exploring the two parallel beaches covered with red ghost crabs that silently scampered across the wet sand.
We felt the sun climb higher into the sky and dove into the surf for another day of snorkeling. Many were lucky enough to swim with the cute marine iguanas, the only oceangoing lizards on the planet. The one pictured here is basking in the sun, perhaps warming up before a feeding dive.
During lunch, the Polaris sailed to James Bay on the western side of Santiago Island. Some of us returned to the water to have a last glimpse of the sea life, some headed for the football (soccer) field, and others took a beautiful walk. As the warm tropical rain became but a drizzle we explored the coastline, discovering the beauty of the fur seal, the yellow-crowned night heron, crabs, shore birds and one of our favorite species, the adorable-take-homeable marine iguanas. Our last complete day in the archipelago ended with a rainbow majestically arching above the Polaris.
We were pleased to spend the final cocktail hour sharing our favorite memories of the week with the entire group. Many of us felt the impact of the beauty of the Galapagos and now have a newfound appreciation for the power of conservation.
As the sun broke over the spatter cones of Bartolome Island we awoke to the melodic voice of Paula. We donned our hiking gear and headed for the top of the volcano. Through the lava and up the steps we trekked until we reached the lighthouse at 350 feet. From there we could see the morning rays of the sun glinting off the multitude of red and black volcanic cones.
After breakfast we jumped aboard the Pangas with the Zodiac cowboys and zoomed toward the crescent beaches. We spent the morning exploring the two parallel beaches covered with red ghost crabs that silently scampered across the wet sand.
We felt the sun climb higher into the sky and dove into the surf for another day of snorkeling. Many were lucky enough to swim with the cute marine iguanas, the only oceangoing lizards on the planet. The one pictured here is basking in the sun, perhaps warming up before a feeding dive.
During lunch, the Polaris sailed to James Bay on the western side of Santiago Island. Some of us returned to the water to have a last glimpse of the sea life, some headed for the football (soccer) field, and others took a beautiful walk. As the warm tropical rain became but a drizzle we explored the coastline, discovering the beauty of the fur seal, the yellow-crowned night heron, crabs, shore birds and one of our favorite species, the adorable-take-homeable marine iguanas. Our last complete day in the archipelago ended with a rainbow majestically arching above the Polaris.
We were pleased to spend the final cocktail hour sharing our favorite memories of the week with the entire group. Many of us felt the impact of the beauty of the Galapagos and now have a newfound appreciation for the power of conservation.
