Sun light through the cabin window woke us up at Bartolome Island, a beautiful site in the middle of the Galapagos. Early in the morning after a dry landing, we started our expedition towards the summit of the volcano. On the way we observed different volcanic cones as well as some pioneer plants such as tiquilia, lava cactus and others which are typically found on the new islands. During the walk we were escorted by a Galapagos hawk, a land bird species that is endemic to this island—it was practicing its flying skills. From the top of the island, we enjoyed the incredible view of this amazing landscape, which is considered to be one of the best views in the archipelago.
To complete the morning, we had water activities. Some guests enjoyed the sandy beach, while others had an awesome snorkeling excursion around Pinnacle Rock, with white-tipped sharks, different kind of rays, colorful fish and Galapagos penguins feeding all around us.
In the afternoon, after our captain repositioned the National Geographic Endeavour II, we enjoyed another a deep water snorkeling excursion from the Zodiacs. With the sun shining over our heads, we visited one of the most unforgettable snorkeling sites and enjoyed opportunities for underwater photography. We spotted many colorful creatures. Later on, we went for a coastal exploration, where we saw the youngest lava formation of the eastern coast of Santiago Island, which is around 150 years old. As we explored Sombrero Chino Island, we met playful sea lions on the rocky shore and in the water, and they gave us an extraordinary show.
At the end of the outing it was sunset and it was time to enjoy on the sky deck with a refreshing cocktail.
What a beautiful day we just had!
