Bartolome and Santiago Islands

I couldn’t believe the beauty I encountered when I woke up today. I saw the same island I have visited for many years, several times before, but the early morning light made it have a special shine, its shapes and colors had been intensified to the most. It was Bartolome at six o’clock in the morning, surrounded by crystalline waters completely smooth and calm. And early we went to conquer the top of this tiny island, famous for its views and its geology. We not only conquered its top, but also submerged in its blue waters, enjoying the company of several species of fish, and surreal enough, the only equatorial penguins, the Galápagos penguins.

The afternoon found us in the island that is pretty close to our hearts. Even before landing our guests knew it all about San Salvador, because they have seen their baby tortoises raised at the breeding center, in the Charles Darwin Research Station, they have heard about the eradication programs we have supported since 1997 and the research going on thanks to the Galápagos Conservation Fund created by Lindblad Expeditions since the very first year the Polaris came to Galápagos. So landing on San Salvador was pretty much like going home to a place that belongs to us because it is in our hearts and we have cared for it for so long. The farewell committee was presided by this yellow-crowned night heron.