Today early in the morning, just as the sun rose on the horizon, we could see the striking volcanic landscape of Bartolome Island. This relatively small volcanic formation, which is only 0.5 square miles, is one of the most beautiful locations in the Galapagos Archipelago. Bartolome is located off the east coast of Santiago Island and is a living field guide of volcanic features. Spatter and tuff cones together with the lava flows create an out-of-this–world unique lunar-looking landscape.
We disembarked at 6:30 a.m. for our walk. A long wooden staircase made up of 374 steps led us to the summit of Bartolomé. As we walked up the steps, the bare lava flows and the different geological formations transported us back in time when just a few organisms were able to succeed. This ascension is like going back in time. Along our way we could observe some lava lizards and some excellent examples of endemic plants that inhabit the island. Pioneer plant species like the gray mat plant (Tiquilia spp.) or lava cacti are active agents of erosion that slowly but surely produce soil. Every step is worth the effort once at the top. We admired with astonishment the breathtaking view of one of the most famous landscapes of the Galapagos Islands. In the distance the famous “Pinnacle Rock” was seen as an eroded remnant of an old tuff cone. Some guests opted to take a Zodiac ride instead of the walk. Several Galapagos penguins and sea lions were seen.
After breakfast we came back to the island to enjoy a beautiful golden beach where we had the chance to snorkel, swim or join glass bottom boat outings.
In the afternoon, the National Geographic Endeavour was repositioned to Sombrero Chino islet. Sombrero Chino is Spanish for “Chinese Hat.” This peculiar shaped islet is located off the coast of the Santiago Island. The shoreline is extremely rich in marine life, so our fearless snorkelers had a second location in the day for snorkeling. They found large schools of razor surgeonfish, eels and some sharks. A swift Galapagos penguin came close to swimming with some of the snorkelers as well. After snorkeling we returned to the ship. The latest activity of the day was a late Zodiac ride along the rocky shore in the vicinity of Sombrero Chino. We enjoyed the amazing volcanic landscape from a different perspective. As the sun set on the horizon and after almost twelve hours exploring, the fiery orange and reddish colors in the sky and clouds gave us another reason to feel alive and special in this unforgettable journey in one of the ultimate paradises on earth, the Galapagos!
