It’s five o’clock in the morning and up in front of us we have one of the largest islands in the archipelago. The National Geographic Islander is going to anchor at Espumilla Bay in time to keep up with our exploration of the island of Santiago.
Historically speaking, this island is doubly important not only for its work to eradicate goats and pigs, feral animals that have been destroying the flora of the islands for more than a century, but also for what Charles Darwin himself was able to do in this particular place. Yes, above all the islands Charles Darwin visited on his voyage here in the Galapagos archipelago, the island of Santiago was where he stayed the longest, walking literally from one side of the island to the other and getting a great chance to collect a large number of different organisms. In total nine days is the time he had to walk the entire different microclimate found here. We are not as lucky as Charles, but we are going to be happy for sure to visit some of the places he saw with his own eyes.
By seven o’clock in the morning our explorers are ready to disembark. We go first with the kayakers along the coast of Espumilla Bay, which is fantastic for this activity, although today seems to be more windy of the expected. The explorers board the kayaks and go on along the coast where the landscape is encouraging and where the birds are diving by then. On the beach another group of explorers go looking for the land attractions and are excited because all of the turtle marks on the beach they can see. It’s been a great morning and we are all gathered on board for breakfast to keep up with the snorkeling and Zodiac riding afterwards.
For the afternoon activities the National Geographic Islander anchors in another visitor site of the national park, and for this opportunity we are visiting Puerto Egas, another special location in the center of the archipelago. By 3:30 we go for a wet landing in Egas and soon after, when all explorers have their shoes on, we are all at the coastline having a great time walking the intertidal areas. The attractions here do not stop and create among us pleasure and satisfaction.
