Bartolome and Santiago Islands
Our first outing in the Galápagos National Park was a refreshing early morning walk to climb the summit of Bartolome Island. Once up on the top of the summit, Marchena, Santa Cruz, Rabida, Pinzon Chinese Hat Islands and Bainbridge rocks completed the surrounding view together with the spectacular Bartolome pinnacle rock. Three hundred and seventy-three wooden steps were placed by the Galápagos National Park Service to avoid the erosion of the area. We enjoyed beautiful wild life such as marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, grasshoppers, lava lizards, sally light foot crabs and even a penguin came out of the water and sat on the rocks just to say hello in our early hike.
Back on board the Islander, we had a well deserved breakfast followed by a briefing with our Expedition Leader Celso about how to snorkel. Once our team of naturalists distributed snorkeling gear (wet suits, fins, masks, snorkels and bags), we had the second outing of the morning: to walk and snorkel on the beach of Bartolome. Guests who had not snorkeled before had their own private snorkeling naturalist as a tutor on the shore; here they will begin practicing and little by little, master this skill which is really worth doing in the waters of Galápagos.
We had a great buffet lunch on board; naturally following, we all had the mandatory Ecuadorian siesta. Meanwhile, the Islander moved onwards to Santiago Island. We commenced the afternoon with a nice walk on the shore and another great snorkeling excursion; we also experienced a wet landing on the black beach at James Bay or Puerto Egas. This place was once the home of an Ecuadorian family after which this bay was named. They made a couple of attempts to settle down on Santiago Island, though they were not successful, and after their second generation the Egas left Santiago. This island has been included in the Galápagos National Park's protected areas and was not to be colonized ever. A few ruins of the Egas’s property are still kept on this place to remember a couple of facts that link the visit of humans in a place like this.
At the end of the afternoon, all gathered on board to review the day’s highlights, details, recommendations and to learn re-cap information about another great day. And this is only the beginning of the week!
Our first outing in the Galápagos National Park was a refreshing early morning walk to climb the summit of Bartolome Island. Once up on the top of the summit, Marchena, Santa Cruz, Rabida, Pinzon Chinese Hat Islands and Bainbridge rocks completed the surrounding view together with the spectacular Bartolome pinnacle rock. Three hundred and seventy-three wooden steps were placed by the Galápagos National Park Service to avoid the erosion of the area. We enjoyed beautiful wild life such as marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, grasshoppers, lava lizards, sally light foot crabs and even a penguin came out of the water and sat on the rocks just to say hello in our early hike.
Back on board the Islander, we had a well deserved breakfast followed by a briefing with our Expedition Leader Celso about how to snorkel. Once our team of naturalists distributed snorkeling gear (wet suits, fins, masks, snorkels and bags), we had the second outing of the morning: to walk and snorkel on the beach of Bartolome. Guests who had not snorkeled before had their own private snorkeling naturalist as a tutor on the shore; here they will begin practicing and little by little, master this skill which is really worth doing in the waters of Galápagos.
We had a great buffet lunch on board; naturally following, we all had the mandatory Ecuadorian siesta. Meanwhile, the Islander moved onwards to Santiago Island. We commenced the afternoon with a nice walk on the shore and another great snorkeling excursion; we also experienced a wet landing on the black beach at James Bay or Puerto Egas. This place was once the home of an Ecuadorian family after which this bay was named. They made a couple of attempts to settle down on Santiago Island, though they were not successful, and after their second generation the Egas left Santiago. This island has been included in the Galápagos National Park's protected areas and was not to be colonized ever. A few ruins of the Egas’s property are still kept on this place to remember a couple of facts that link the visit of humans in a place like this.
At the end of the afternoon, all gathered on board to review the day’s highlights, details, recommendations and to learn re-cap information about another great day. And this is only the beginning of the week!
