Bartolomé & Santiago Islands
So we have begun our expedition around the Galápagos with the centrally located islands of Bartolomé and Santiago. The first one is so small that one can hardly distinguish it on a map of the archipelago, but it holds a tremendously rich underwater ecosystem.
It was only after we conquered the top of Bartolomé that we went to experience what its underwater world has to offer. Tropical fish all around escorted us to encounter larger animals such as turtles, sharks and the famous Galápagos sea lions. The latter was so playful that it was hard for us to leave the area and explore the rest of the snorkeling site a little further. Luckily we found the strength to do it, as the rewards were many, being penguins the most important of all.
During the afternoon our navigation to reach the island of Santiago was exhilerating, as a large group of dolphins joined us half way, giving us all a chance to witness their acrobatic jumps and their effortless ride on the ship’s bow.
Once on Santiago Island, we disembarked and strolled along the coastline observing a large variety of wildlife. Migratory birds were spotted easily even without the help of binoculars, and as we continued our walk, sea lions and marine iguanas increased in numbers.
The day was dying as the sun started to set on the horizon, but we all got what we wanted: a fascinating day in the Galápagos Islands with fascinating people alike, experiencing nature at its best!
