Santiago Island
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 mangrove forest we passed a brackish water lagoon where we found Bahamas pintail ducks and whimbrels. Then we continued through an area covered by huge Palo Santos trees, the soil was wet giving a very pleasant smell. A couple Galápagos hawks and mockingbirds were spotted, then we went back to the beach and finally National Geographic Islander—it was a great experience.
Later on in the morning we visited Buccaneer Cove. Here we had a number of activities such as kayaking, enjoying the impressive landscape of the place, and snorkeling. While snorkeling we spotted Surgeons fish, king angel fish, Moorish idols, parrot fish, snappers, grunts, Galápagos sea lions, white-tipped reef sharks, eagle rays and many others species of reef fishes. The water visibility was over 50 feet and water temperature around 78F—what a great combination.
On the way to our next destination we had a heavy rain that helped cool the afternoon and make the islands greener. In the afternoon we landed on the black volcanic sandy beach; some of our guests went snorkeling and the rest went for a hike along the coast of James or Santiago Island. Here we had the chance to walk along the coast where we found some interesting lava formations known as grottos, fur seals and sea lions laying on them, different species of shore birds as semi palmate plover, sanderlings, ruddy turnstones, lots of marine iguanas, American oyster catchers, and much more. After witnessing an incredible sunset we headed back to National Geographic Islander.
Just another day in paradise!
