Bartolomé & Santiago Islands
Waking up early for the pre-breakfast outing to the top of Bartolomé I measured 20 knots of wind! That is strong for these islands. The almost ever-present trade winds from the southeast normally average 10 knots, although here in this corner of the archipelago that average is slightly higher. We soon were summiting one of the big tuff cones of Bartolomé, admiring lava tubes, spatter cones and the spectacular views in all directions.
After breakfast we went snorkeling from a golden beach of the same island, with a looming pinnacle above us, spotting many reef fish, sea lions and corals. Two sea lions entertained some of us until we really had to go; they were as curious as us and just kept ‘sniffing us out’. These were adult sea lions and unlike the usual playful puppies we so well know, adults are incredibly elegant, their maneuvers obviously more refined. Back on the beach the sun got us warm again and after a quick sunbath we headed back to the ship.
After a regional Ecuadorian lunch buffet and siesta Lynn gave a talk about the geology and biogeography of Galápagos. This talk helps a great deal to get the big picture of why Galápagos is so special.
Later that afternoon we went to snorkel or kayak in James Bay, Puerto Egas, before a lovely late afternoon walk along a kaleidoscopic beach made out of black sand, crushed sea urchins, tuff strata, basalt grottos, all teeming with wildlife such as crabs, mollusks, fur seals and marine iguanas. The sunset over the giant shield volcanoes on the horizon made our hearts beat faster and our cameras purr. A crescent moon was rising in a clear sky, while the wind had entirely disappeared.
