Bartolome has the most famous view of the Galápagos Islands. We get the chance to see this unique volcanic panorama by taking a wooden trail, built by the National Park Service, toward the peak.
During our early morning walk, our legs begin to feel heavier as we ascend the stairway to the top, passing several cinder cones, some lava lizards, and a few cacti. Finally, we reach the top where good weather conditions allow us to appreciate the landscape of several nearby islands. After sharing this moment and also snapping pictures of Pinnacle Rock, we make our way back down to the dock.
Once onboard the ship, everyone gets ready for snorkeling and beach time. This is a special moment for those who are exploring these waters for the first time. While snorkeling, we look for the endemic Galápagos penguin, the most tropical of all penguin species on the planet. The Galápagos Islands is the only place in the world where you can find penguins on the tropics. If you spot one while snorkeling, the penguin usually goes by at a high speed like a small torpedo.
After exploring the underwater life and different rock formation, we head back to the National Geographic Islander to reposition the ship to our next destination, Rabida Island, which features a unique red sand beach.
Once there, some explorers get in kayaks, while others enjoy snorkeling. We spot the famous Galápagos sea lions playfully swimming by. We also find endemic marine iguanas feeding underwater, along with different species of fish.
During the late afternoon, we land on Rabida for a walk. The sun provide us good lighting for photography. The colors get brighter as we come across Galápagos mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, and one species of lava lizards. Eventually, we find pelicans nesting. The young ones demand food from their parents and we see them getting fed right in front of us.
Just spending one day in this beautiful paradise makes us appreciate the cycles of life in this fragile yet balanced world.
