Santiago Island (Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer´s Cove, Egas Port)
We had walk in the morning, visiting Espumilla Beach on Santiago Island. We walked through the old incense tree forest, finding some species of ground birds on our way further inland.
After breakfast we navigated to a very well-known place in the islands, a place visited by pirates and buccaneers in the 17th century – Buccaneer’s Cove offered us some deep-water snorkeling with sharks and rays, and some great kayaking along the coastline where the Galápagos Fur Seals are living!
We were lucky to spot many species of fish from the glass-bottom boat, as several outings of this activity were arranged!
In the afternoon, we were accompanied by rain all along our hike, but that didn´t stop us from enjoying the endemic flora and fauna of James Island; we were basically following Darwin´s footsteps since Santiago is the island where Darwin spent nine days!
Many migratory shorebirds were seen along the lava flows exposed by the low tide. We had the chance to see again the perfect habitat of the Galápagos fur seals living in the grottos (collapsed lava tubes). A sea turtle was seen in this area, as well as a Galápagos shark swimming into the pools made by the collapsed lava.
On our way back along the coastline of Santiago, we found a couple of American oystercatchers with their newborn chick – island life in its most natural state for all of us to enjoy!
