Bartolomé and Rábida Islands
The Galápagos Islands wildlife is one of the most resplendent of the planet, and today we experienced more of these wonders as we visited the center of the archipelago: Bartolomé and Rábida. We began the exploration early this morning in order to get a sense of the volcanic structures of Bartolomé Island, and an early hike was the best way to start. The splendor of the place surprised us from the very beginning as a great blue heron was fishing on the disembarkation platform. Farther along the trail, the marvels of volcanism were there for us to see: Tuff cones that surrounded the area, little lava tubes that looked like melted chocolate, and spatter cones that made it look like a perfect moonscape as we reached the summit of the island. The landscape of Bartolomé with the emblematic Pinnacle Rock in the background was likely to be the highlight of the hike.
Once back on board National Geographic Islander, a delightful breakfast was ready in order to get us ready for the next part of the adventure: deep water snorkeling. As we climbed into the water, the magnificent undersea world of the Galapagos Islands marine Reserve was revealed to us. Reef fish of many different colors surrounded us, and playful Galápagos sea lions were our very good companions at all moments. An orange sand beach by the Pinnacle Rock was the perfect place to come back and relax as watching the seabirds gliding above us.
As the activity ended, it was time to pull anchor in order to sail to our next destination: Rábida Island. In the afternoon the exploration got better, and a pleasant Ecuadorian buffet lunch was the best way to begin it. A combination of numerous splendid activities made us witness what Rábida prepared to our senses: deep water snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming. During the deep water snorkeling, a symphony of colors was displayed by the reef fish in the area. After this wonderful activity, we got our gear ready in order to enjoy the hike to Rábida Island.
A wet landing on a marvelous red sand beach was the perfect arrival for our fantastic hike. The vegetation of the area was awe-inspiring as incense trees were leaf covered, and Darwin finches were singing all over the place. At the end of a marvelous brackish water lagoon, a male vermillion flycatcher was standing on a trail marker. At the end of exploration we enjoyed a charming sunset with a sea lion colony in the background. Today we had a symphony of nature’s splendor enchant our senses as we enjoyed the marvels of the Galápagos Islands.
