Bartolome and Santiago Islands
We are now in the heart of the hot and rainy season in the Galápagos – and the evidence of this is everywhere to be seen. In the relatively lush and green aspect of usually dry and arid landscapes; in the frenzied activity of the terrestrial inhabitants of the islands, such as land birds and land iguanas; in the crystal clear, calm and warm waters that are bathing the shorelines; in the sheer numbers of “misbehaving” sea turtles that are to be found now (such as the two photographed this morning), at the height of their breeding season. Galápagos is truly tropical at this time of year – a fact which may seem obvious for a group of islands that straddle the equator, but that in fact is far from true due to the cold waters that usually dominate in the area.
During the first day of our expedition through the Galápagos, we visited two separate islands: the small volcanic cone of Bartolome, nicknamed the “textbook of geology” due to the dry conditions that predominate here as a result of the tiny islet being situated in the rainshadow of two larger islands, and the fourth largest island of the group, the beautiful Santiago or James Island.
We had some fascinating nature walks, during which we could observe beautiful landscapes and strange and wonderful flora and fauna; but undoubtedly the highlight for most of us was immersing ourselves in the warm velvety Pacific waters and exploring the underwater realm. Because Galápagos is not tropical, we lack massing coral reef formations but still have over 50 species of corals, including many reef-building types such as those photographed here. And among these: colourful sea stars and other invertebrates, hundreds of reef fish, the occasional shark – and just to remind us that this isn’t just another tropical island we were snorkeling at, the occasional penguin (yes, you have read correctly, no spelling mistake – penguins on the equator!) flits past like a momentary lapse of reason… Welcome to the Galápagos!
We are now in the heart of the hot and rainy season in the Galápagos – and the evidence of this is everywhere to be seen. In the relatively lush and green aspect of usually dry and arid landscapes; in the frenzied activity of the terrestrial inhabitants of the islands, such as land birds and land iguanas; in the crystal clear, calm and warm waters that are bathing the shorelines; in the sheer numbers of “misbehaving” sea turtles that are to be found now (such as the two photographed this morning), at the height of their breeding season. Galápagos is truly tropical at this time of year – a fact which may seem obvious for a group of islands that straddle the equator, but that in fact is far from true due to the cold waters that usually dominate in the area.
During the first day of our expedition through the Galápagos, we visited two separate islands: the small volcanic cone of Bartolome, nicknamed the “textbook of geology” due to the dry conditions that predominate here as a result of the tiny islet being situated in the rainshadow of two larger islands, and the fourth largest island of the group, the beautiful Santiago or James Island.
We had some fascinating nature walks, during which we could observe beautiful landscapes and strange and wonderful flora and fauna; but undoubtedly the highlight for most of us was immersing ourselves in the warm velvety Pacific waters and exploring the underwater realm. Because Galápagos is not tropical, we lack massing coral reef formations but still have over 50 species of corals, including many reef-building types such as those photographed here. And among these: colourful sea stars and other invertebrates, hundreds of reef fish, the occasional shark – and just to remind us that this isn’t just another tropical island we were snorkeling at, the occasional penguin (yes, you have read correctly, no spelling mistake – penguins on the equator!) flits past like a momentary lapse of reason… Welcome to the Galápagos!
