Bartolomé Island
An optional early wake up call took us to our first landing at Bartolomé Island to hike up three hundred and seventy three steps to the summit of this old eroded volcano. We appreciated the delightful breeze that the south eastern trade winds are already bringing to the islands. May is the month of the changing seasons in Galápagos as the fresh cool southern water fronts are coming up and are pushing away the large warm water fronts that prevail during the hot months in the Galápagos Islands, from January until the end of April. This is really one of the best times to visit the Galápagos. Water temperatures are still relatively warm (around 77 °F) and there is a delightful fresh marine breeze that accompanies us during all our activities.
The afternoon highlight was a colony of Galápagos fur seals lying down in the shady grottos around Puerto Egas on Santiago Island. We saw hundreds of big and strong crested marine iguanas basking in the last sun rays of the day. Shore birds like American oystercatchers, black-necked plovers, lava herons and many others were spotted during our walk along the coastline. The portion of the inland trail introduced to us to the magical green world of the Galápagos plants, Darwin finches and Galápagos Mockingbirds. A Galápagos hawk and the several Galápagos doves were admired as well.
Once we came back on board we felt a little bit tired but happy for having experienced a magical full day on the islands. The National Geographic Islander’s pampering crew was expecting us with an open air bar and delicious appetizers on the sun deck of the ship. From there, we all enjoyed a glorious sunset on this enchanted archipelago.
An optional early wake up call took us to our first landing at Bartolomé Island to hike up three hundred and seventy three steps to the summit of this old eroded volcano. We appreciated the delightful breeze that the south eastern trade winds are already bringing to the islands. May is the month of the changing seasons in Galápagos as the fresh cool southern water fronts are coming up and are pushing away the large warm water fronts that prevail during the hot months in the Galápagos Islands, from January until the end of April. This is really one of the best times to visit the Galápagos. Water temperatures are still relatively warm (around 77 °F) and there is a delightful fresh marine breeze that accompanies us during all our activities.
The afternoon highlight was a colony of Galápagos fur seals lying down in the shady grottos around Puerto Egas on Santiago Island. We saw hundreds of big and strong crested marine iguanas basking in the last sun rays of the day. Shore birds like American oystercatchers, black-necked plovers, lava herons and many others were spotted during our walk along the coastline. The portion of the inland trail introduced to us to the magical green world of the Galápagos plants, Darwin finches and Galápagos Mockingbirds. A Galápagos hawk and the several Galápagos doves were admired as well.
Once we came back on board we felt a little bit tired but happy for having experienced a magical full day on the islands. The National Geographic Islander’s pampering crew was expecting us with an open air bar and delicious appetizers on the sun deck of the ship. From there, we all enjoyed a glorious sunset on this enchanted archipelago.
