Today we had a marvelous experience at the living paradise of the Galapagos Islands. An early hike in order to enjoy the wonders of Santiago Island was the best way to begin exploration. The marvels of the place overwhelmed us upon our arrival, as an impressive brown sand beach was the perfect decoration for a magnificent landscape. Farther along the beach, the presence of a female sea turtle got our attention at Espumilla beach. Once we reached the highest point of the visitor site, we were greeted with a marvelous view of a landscape decorated with the ocean, a glorious beach, and a remarkable mangrove forest.
As soon as we came back on board the National Geographic Endeavour, there was no time to waste, so we immediately prepared to sail to our next destination: Buccaneer Cove. Deep water snorkeling was going to be the next chapter of exploration. The amount of reef fish was definitely magical. Galapagos sea lions were the perfect company for the stunned snorkelers. The highlight of the moment was the incredible color combination of the amount of reef fishes found in this area.
In the afternoon, our exploration brought us to one of the most iconic places of the Island: Puerto Egas. Once we started the hike to the lava grottos, we had a delightful view of a dry forest mainly decorated with cacti and scotia bushes. The presence of Galapagos fur seals at the lava rock formations, made for a perfect photography moment. Along the coastal trail we found a large variety of inter-tidal life, combined with the presence of migratory shore birds, marine iguanas and Galapagos sea lions. Once our journey was over, the sun set behind the Isabela Island volcanoes, in order to let us know that tomorrow, another day in paradise is waiting for us. Days may pass by, and years might be gone, but the Galapagos Islands will never leave our hearts.
