Bartolomé and Rabida Island
We wake up early this morning to find the islands shrouded in fog; the Garua season has set in. From now on, we can expect fog, which is called ‘Garua’ in Latin America, any time in the morning, since the surface temperature of the water is cooler. Later in the day, the sun will burn it off. The walk this morning is mostly scenic, and the sun peeks through the mist, giving us some great photo opportunities. This volcanic landscape is riddled with Tuff- and Spatter cones, and one can still, after more than a million years, vividly imagine the violence of these eruptions.
After breakfast we head out for beach time and snorkeling. It is an easy start in shallow and calm water. The underwater tuff formations are almost more spectacular than those above water, since they have so many species living on and around them. We see many different reef and coral fish, soft corals, sponges, anemones, sea stars, and some bigger creatures like sea lions and white tipped reef sharks. Some of us even spot a few Galápagos penguins zooming by.
Such a busy morning deserves a satisfying lunch followed by a siesta. Just like Ecuadorian tradition, we eat many local dishes and afterwards have a nap.
After this, we have a choice to partake in kayaking, snorkeling or beach time. The snorkeling is again spectacular, and we see big schools of fish fleeing from a small feeding frenzy of blue-footed boobies. We also see several green sea turtles, our first frolicking Galápagos sea lions and a small school of barracudas.
Back on board, after a nice hot shower we again have the option to go out, this time for a short hike on Rabida Island. We see a small salt water pond with three greater flamingoes after landing on a deep red beach scattered with white, dried up sea stars. It is a scene you couldn’t dream up. Sometimes Galápagos voyaging is like visiting different planets, because the feel of each island is completely different than the last. This sensation will be repeated several times this week.
From a higher viewpoint we see the sun descending behind an enormous shield volcano neighbored by two just as large. It is a magnificent sight. This island is Isabela, the island we will visit tomorrow. Never before has the future looked so good.
