It was a beautiful morning! The sun was shining and there was a nice warm breeze. It was time to start our activities. Before breakfast we boarded the fleet of Zodiacs to disembark on Bartolomé Island. On this island the process of colonization is carried out by pioneer organisms, which is quite remarkable. There are only a few creatures here such as snakes, lava lizards, some grasshoppers, and small plants. Only these can tolerate the extreme conditions of this place, which experiences heat and drought for most of the year.
The Galápagos Islands are divided into two protected areas: one is the protected land, and the other is the marine reserve, considered to be among the largest in the world. It is also of enormous importance for research and tourism. Today we had the opportunity to enjoy a great snorkeling outing because it was not just fish that we had around us. As we explored the area we had close encounters with tropical fish, sea lions, sting rays, and penguins!
In the second part of the day after lunch we anchored off Rábida Island. Here the red beach and cliffs are a remarkable highlight! The afternoon was packed with exciting activities! Some of us explored the scenic landscape from kayaks. The shore on this island was dotted with creatures like blue-footed boobies, pelicans, penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas, and flamingos! Once we entered the water we were literally surrounded by many types of fish particularly yellow-tailed razors, as well as marine iguanas, sharks, and sea turtles!
What a day. I can’t wait to see more!
