When Darwin came to the Galapagos Islands, he didn´t spend very much time on land, but out of the four islands that he visited, he spent the most time on Santiago.
Today we came to this iconic place, renowned not just for its famous visitor, but also for being an island where conservation efforts have restored ecosystems and wildlife populations that were close to extinction.
We started the morning at Playa Espumilla. An orange beach was the perfect location for our art lovers! We had a group of photography as well as a drawing group. Our hikers explored a trail that took them through the mangroves and a Palo Santo forest.
We all came back to the ship for breakfast, while our ship repositioned to Buccaneer’s Cove.
The waters were clear and turquoise, the sun was shining… We were ready for our water activities! Glass bottom boats, kayaks and snorkelers enjoyed a morning full of sightings of colourful fish and playful sea lions.
In the afternoon, we had a talk about Charles Darwin, his life and his work, after which we offered some beach time. In the late afternoon, we went to explore the shores of Puerto Egas. The tuff landscapes, mixed with lava rock, make up a beautiful hidden spot, which we call the grotos. Both fur seal and herons are mostly active at night, and during the day they come to the grotos to rest. The rocks had carved small tidal pools, where many shore birds come to feed. During our walk, we photographed the view and discussed the different conservation programs that take place on this island, including the eradication of feral goats, the reintroduction of giant tortoises.
