Bartolome & Santiago Islands
An early morning wake-up call found us racing the sunrise in pursuit of one of the most famous views in the Galápagos. This time, instead of scrambling over rocky trails, we climbed a winding wooden stairway three hundred and seventy-two lung and leg challenging steps to the top of the ancient volcanic cinder-cone on Bartolomé Island. A grand and glorious vista greeted us as we reached the summit. Views of Bartolomé and Santiago Islands, as well as Pinnacle Peak (featured in the Russell Crowe movie, “Master and Commander”) stretched to the horizon.
No sooner had we reached our viewpoint than a cry went out from among the group … "Orca!" One of the ship’s naturalists had spotted a pod of the spectacular whales hunting along the shore. Rushing back down the mountain, we climbed into our faithful Zodiacs to observe the magnificent creatures in one of the most scenic habitats in the world. Swirling groups of opportunistic frigate birds followed the hunting orcas, guiding us to the whales, while our cameras blazed away capturing the drama all around us.
After breakfast we returned to Bartolomé for photographic and snorkeling opportunities. Shore birds, sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs provided great subjects as we explored the dunes and sandy beaches of the island.
After a short sail, we closed our day at Santiago Island, where swimming, snorkeling and photography were on the schedule. Marine iguanas, sea lions and many bird species challenged our abilities with a camera. American Oystercatchers, striated herons, yellow warblers, whimbrels, willets and sandpipers all made an appearance. Fittingly, a rising full moon lead us back to the National Geographic Polaris as we ended another amazing day exploring and photographing in the enchanted islands of the Galápagos.
An early morning wake-up call found us racing the sunrise in pursuit of one of the most famous views in the Galápagos. This time, instead of scrambling over rocky trails, we climbed a winding wooden stairway three hundred and seventy-two lung and leg challenging steps to the top of the ancient volcanic cinder-cone on Bartolomé Island. A grand and glorious vista greeted us as we reached the summit. Views of Bartolomé and Santiago Islands, as well as Pinnacle Peak (featured in the Russell Crowe movie, “Master and Commander”) stretched to the horizon.
No sooner had we reached our viewpoint than a cry went out from among the group … "Orca!" One of the ship’s naturalists had spotted a pod of the spectacular whales hunting along the shore. Rushing back down the mountain, we climbed into our faithful Zodiacs to observe the magnificent creatures in one of the most scenic habitats in the world. Swirling groups of opportunistic frigate birds followed the hunting orcas, guiding us to the whales, while our cameras blazed away capturing the drama all around us.
After breakfast we returned to Bartolomé for photographic and snorkeling opportunities. Shore birds, sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs provided great subjects as we explored the dunes and sandy beaches of the island.
After a short sail, we closed our day at Santiago Island, where swimming, snorkeling and photography were on the schedule. Marine iguanas, sea lions and many bird species challenged our abilities with a camera. American Oystercatchers, striated herons, yellow warblers, whimbrels, willets and sandpipers all made an appearance. Fittingly, a rising full moon lead us back to the National Geographic Polaris as we ended another amazing day exploring and photographing in the enchanted islands of the Galápagos.
