Today we started our day on the western side of Santiago Island. After an early wake up call, we landed at Espumilla Beach, a place covered with an interesting mix of volcanic ashes and tiny pieces of olivine where we spotted tracks made by sea turtle and holes made by ghost crabs. After crossing a button mangroves forest we continued through an area covered by huge Palo Santos trees, where the soil was wet and gave off a very enjoyable smell. A couple of Galapagos hawks and mockingbirds were spotted, and then we went back to beach and back on the National Geographic Islander. It was a great experience.
Later on but still in the morning we visited Buccaneer Cove. Here we had a number of activities such as kayaking, where we enjoying the impressive landscape around us, and snorkeling. During the snorkeling we spotted surgeons fish, king angel fish, Moorish idols, parrot fish, snappers, grunts, Galapagos sea lions, white-tipped reef sharks, eagle rays, and many others species of reef fish. The water visibility was over 30 feet and the water temperature was around 79F - a great combination.
In the afternoon we landed on a black volcanic sandy beach and had chance to walk along the coast. There we found some interesting lava formations known as grottos with fur seals and sea lions laying on them, different species of shore birds, sanderlings, ruddy turnstones, lots of marine iguanas, American oyster catchers, and much more. After witnessing an incredible sunset we headed back to the National Geographic Islander.
Just another day in paradise!
