Bartolome & Santiago Islands
Our first full day in paradise was filled with spectacular highlights. Our first morning outing consisted of an optional early morning wake up call. We disembarqued at six thirty in the morning to climb up to the eroded summit of Bartolome island where a wooden stair case took us up to an altitude of about three hundred feet. On our way up the naturalists introduced us to the wonderful geology of these spectacular islands. The price for climbing three hundred and seventy stairs was the most beautiful view of the surrounding islands and nearby beaches.
Once back on board we were fed breakfast and briefed by our expedition leader on snorkeling skills. Bartolome is one of the best snorkeling sites in this archipelago; here you snorkel with Galápagos penguins, colorful fish, sea stars and white tipped sharks all at once. Sand dunes filled with nests of sea turtles was another highlight for us all.
Once we enjoyed typical Ecuadorian food for lunch, we headed for a nap; this was optionally interrupted to have a presentation about the great job the Galápagos National Park Service does to keep these protected areas as pure and unspoiled as possible.
The afternoon activities were snorkeling from the beach of Puerto Egas and a nice late hike along the shores of Santiago Island. To highlight the attractions, we saw shore and marine birds, Galápagos sea lions, double furred sea lions, and stacks of large marine iguanas.
The golden seal to this great day was the star gazing offered on our upper deck after dinner. With the lights out, we observed a magnificent sky filled with stars and constellations, that resembled little sparkling diamonds.
Our first full day in paradise was filled with spectacular highlights. Our first morning outing consisted of an optional early morning wake up call. We disembarqued at six thirty in the morning to climb up to the eroded summit of Bartolome island where a wooden stair case took us up to an altitude of about three hundred feet. On our way up the naturalists introduced us to the wonderful geology of these spectacular islands. The price for climbing three hundred and seventy stairs was the most beautiful view of the surrounding islands and nearby beaches.
Once back on board we were fed breakfast and briefed by our expedition leader on snorkeling skills. Bartolome is one of the best snorkeling sites in this archipelago; here you snorkel with Galápagos penguins, colorful fish, sea stars and white tipped sharks all at once. Sand dunes filled with nests of sea turtles was another highlight for us all.
Once we enjoyed typical Ecuadorian food for lunch, we headed for a nap; this was optionally interrupted to have a presentation about the great job the Galápagos National Park Service does to keep these protected areas as pure and unspoiled as possible.
The afternoon activities were snorkeling from the beach of Puerto Egas and a nice late hike along the shores of Santiago Island. To highlight the attractions, we saw shore and marine birds, Galápagos sea lions, double furred sea lions, and stacks of large marine iguanas.
The golden seal to this great day was the star gazing offered on our upper deck after dinner. With the lights out, we observed a magnificent sky filled with stars and constellations, that resembled little sparkling diamonds.
