Bartolome and Santiago Islands
This last day of this great week, has undoubtedly been a wonderful day. Early in the morning we woke up to face the challenge of climbing up a few steps… just a few that took us up to 365 feet above sea level, to admire one of the most spectacular views in the Galapagos. After breakfast we had many water activities from a pristine beach that a few sea lions and Galapagos penguins often visit. Because of marine turtles hatching at night at this time of year, sharks were in abundance off the southern beach. They cruised within inches of shore, both white-tipped reef sharks, as well as some Galapagos sharks. Off our landing beach on the north side of the isthmus, an east Pacific green sea turtle hung around calmly as snorkelers floated by, wide-eyed through their masks. Some even managed a glimpse of penguin, as it flitted by in its underwater flight.
Lunch took us cruising along the northern and western coast of Santiago Island. From the ship we could see Buccaneer’s bay, a cove where many pirates and buccaneers found shelter in the past, as well as a huge black expense of lava recently expulsed a few hundred years ago, barely colonized as yet by vegetation.
In the afternoon, a black beach was our landing, for more swimming and snorkeling, followed by a walking exploration of the shoreline of Puerto Egas, the southernmost point of James Bay on western Santiago. This visit was a review of all the wonderful sightings of this past week. Sea lions (pupping has started in the last couple of weeks here) and fur seals were encountered, marine iguanas, finches and warblers as well. Also well worth admiring was the beautiful geology of the area, with the largest island, Isabela, on the horizon below the lowering sun.
This last day of this great week, has undoubtedly been a wonderful day. Early in the morning we woke up to face the challenge of climbing up a few steps… just a few that took us up to 365 feet above sea level, to admire one of the most spectacular views in the Galapagos. After breakfast we had many water activities from a pristine beach that a few sea lions and Galapagos penguins often visit. Because of marine turtles hatching at night at this time of year, sharks were in abundance off the southern beach. They cruised within inches of shore, both white-tipped reef sharks, as well as some Galapagos sharks. Off our landing beach on the north side of the isthmus, an east Pacific green sea turtle hung around calmly as snorkelers floated by, wide-eyed through their masks. Some even managed a glimpse of penguin, as it flitted by in its underwater flight.
Lunch took us cruising along the northern and western coast of Santiago Island. From the ship we could see Buccaneer’s bay, a cove where many pirates and buccaneers found shelter in the past, as well as a huge black expense of lava recently expulsed a few hundred years ago, barely colonized as yet by vegetation.
In the afternoon, a black beach was our landing, for more swimming and snorkeling, followed by a walking exploration of the shoreline of Puerto Egas, the southernmost point of James Bay on western Santiago. This visit was a review of all the wonderful sightings of this past week. Sea lions (pupping has started in the last couple of weeks here) and fur seals were encountered, marine iguanas, finches and warblers as well. Also well worth admiring was the beautiful geology of the area, with the largest island, Isabela, on the horizon below the lowering sun.
