The sun rising in a volcanic cone and a nice cool breeze welcomed us to Bartolome Island. Early in the morning, before breakfast, most of us went for a brisk walk to the top of the island. The view and the extraordinary geological features along the trail made our visit unique.
Later in the morning, after a talk on snorkeling safety, we geared up and went into the subtropical waters of the Galápagos to try snorkeling for the first time in our expedition. A penguin and many species of fish were seen, including a white-tipped reef shark.
All guests came back on board at mid-day for a great Ecuadorian lunch. Many decorations and delicious exotic food awaited us in the dining room to our delight.
In the afternoon we set sail for Rabida, a small red-colored island mostly formed by eroded cinder cones full of iron oxides. The landing was at a red sandy beach with a large sea lion colony. A walk along the red beach with great light gave us the best opportunity for photography. We were able to stay until sunset.
Some of the other activities offered during the afternoon included deepwater snorkeling and kayaking. Both were very popular owing to the good conditions of the area and gave us the chance to further explore the coastal and marine ecosystems of Rabida. Among the species found at this site were blue-footed boobies, Galápagos fur seals, Nazca boobies, vermillion flycatcher, and brown pelicans.
We had a successful day and everybody was eager for more. Tomorrow we’ll be in the western realms of the Enchanted Islands.
