We dropped the anchor at Espumilla Bay, at sunrise. With the first rays of light, our guests prepared to disembark for today’s adventures. One of the groups hiked through an enchanted forest of holy trees and up a gentle hill, where they enjoyed delightful views accompanied with the intoxicating aroma of incense permeating the atmosphere. Several guests decided to stay along the beach, photographing hawks hovering in the mangroves and friendly shore birds; they learned about light, composition and shutter speed in the company of our photo expert, Aura. We also had a group who decided to sit, observe and paint, living the “here and now” together with resident artist Amy Wright.
If the early morning was peacefully charming, the after breakfast activities kept us very active. We dedicated our time to the sea, either kayaking or glimpsing the underwater realms, either by snorkeling or through the glass-bottom boat. Buccaneers’ cove shone in its red cinders and black dikes, with its golden beach and layers of tuff. This bay sheltered pirates in the late sixteen hundreds. They provisioned their ships with water, when available, and tortoises. Today we marveled at its beauty, both on land and underwater.
In the afternoon we landed further south, at Puerto Egas, where we explored tidal pools and lava flows. We had lovely conditions: a cool breeze blowing in from the sea, while the warmth of a setting sun kept us very comfortable all throughout the hike. We loved San Salvador, and even more as we proudly remember that this is the island that Lindblad and National Geographic have adopted. It’s a restored island, an example of commitment and responsibility with the environment. It’s an island that is very dear to our hearts.
