Bartolomé and Santiago
This morning we landed on a site with perhaps the most famous view in the islands, Pinnacle Rock on Bartolomé Island. “Three hundred and seventy two steps, are you crazy?” That’s how we began our final day in the Galápagos Islands. All the volcanic forms are exposed and little vegetation covers the tuff, cinder and ash. A very good example of the arrival and establishment of species in the Galápagos.
Before disembarking, we could enjoy the company of some wild life that was already waiting for us, like a few Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans fishing in the bay early in the morning.
The sandy beach was marked by tracks of the female Pacific green sea turtles that had hauled their bulk up the beach last night to lay their eggs. Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttled over lava rocks, and white-tipped reef sharks patrolled the southern beach in the shallows. We saw two beautiful brown pelican chicks in the mangroves waiting for food.
We snorkeled and searched for colorful fish, and we saw them also from the glass bottom boat.
The afternoon was spent in Puerto Egas, part of James Bay, Santiago Island, our adopted island. James received the snorkelers that enjoyed their time with playful sea lions. Our youngest visitors had the opportunity to lie on the beach with some pups, the experience of a lifetime. But how to top that? With a spectacular walk to the grottoes where we saw along the way American oystercatchers, Galápagos fur seals and a Galápagos hawk against a setting sun. This made us realize that there are still a few remote paradises in the world and that we are lucky enough to be on one.
With the continued work and dedication of everyone who cares for Galápagos, a group of people that we are fortunate enough to be able to join, the Islands will continue to thrill travelers for generations to come.
This morning we landed on a site with perhaps the most famous view in the islands, Pinnacle Rock on Bartolomé Island. “Three hundred and seventy two steps, are you crazy?” That’s how we began our final day in the Galápagos Islands. All the volcanic forms are exposed and little vegetation covers the tuff, cinder and ash. A very good example of the arrival and establishment of species in the Galápagos.
Before disembarking, we could enjoy the company of some wild life that was already waiting for us, like a few Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans fishing in the bay early in the morning.
The sandy beach was marked by tracks of the female Pacific green sea turtles that had hauled their bulk up the beach last night to lay their eggs. Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttled over lava rocks, and white-tipped reef sharks patrolled the southern beach in the shallows. We saw two beautiful brown pelican chicks in the mangroves waiting for food.
We snorkeled and searched for colorful fish, and we saw them also from the glass bottom boat.
The afternoon was spent in Puerto Egas, part of James Bay, Santiago Island, our adopted island. James received the snorkelers that enjoyed their time with playful sea lions. Our youngest visitors had the opportunity to lie on the beach with some pups, the experience of a lifetime. But how to top that? With a spectacular walk to the grottoes where we saw along the way American oystercatchers, Galápagos fur seals and a Galápagos hawk against a setting sun. This made us realize that there are still a few remote paradises in the world and that we are lucky enough to be on one.
With the continued work and dedication of everyone who cares for Galápagos, a group of people that we are fortunate enough to be able to join, the Islands will continue to thrill travelers for generations to come.
