Bartolome and Santiago
This morning we landed in a site with perhaps the most famous vista in the islands – Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome Island. But it was not just the rock that drew our attention. The sandy beach was marked by the tracks of the female Pacific green sea turtles that had hauled their bulk up the beach last night to lay their eggs. Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttled over lava rocks and a well camouflaged lava heron stalked fish in the shallows. Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans also fished in the bay. We snorkelled and searched for the fish they found so attractive and found many more besides.
In a week of exploring Galápagos it is perhaps all too easy to become familiar with the embarrassment of wildlife riches offered by these islands. What seemed incredible a week ago has become the norm. We now expect to be greeted by an honour guard of marine iguanas and sea lions on every beach. Turtles and sharks have become our snorkel buddies. The ‘sparrows’ on the streets of Puerto Ayora are the endemic and famous Darwin’s finches. Reality will kick in tomorrow as we board our flight to leave these extraordinary islands, and such things as bioluminescent bow-riding dolphins will be a memory.
But it is heartening to know that the dolphins will still be bow-riding, the tortoises still proceeding on their ponderous migration and other groups of travellers will be as thrilled as we have been. And, with the continued work and dedication of everyone who cares for Galápagos, a group of people that we are fortunate enough to be able to join, they will continue to thrill travellers for generations to come.
This morning we landed in a site with perhaps the most famous vista in the islands – Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome Island. But it was not just the rock that drew our attention. The sandy beach was marked by the tracks of the female Pacific green sea turtles that had hauled their bulk up the beach last night to lay their eggs. Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttled over lava rocks and a well camouflaged lava heron stalked fish in the shallows. Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans also fished in the bay. We snorkelled and searched for the fish they found so attractive and found many more besides.
In a week of exploring Galápagos it is perhaps all too easy to become familiar with the embarrassment of wildlife riches offered by these islands. What seemed incredible a week ago has become the norm. We now expect to be greeted by an honour guard of marine iguanas and sea lions on every beach. Turtles and sharks have become our snorkel buddies. The ‘sparrows’ on the streets of Puerto Ayora are the endemic and famous Darwin’s finches. Reality will kick in tomorrow as we board our flight to leave these extraordinary islands, and such things as bioluminescent bow-riding dolphins will be a memory.
But it is heartening to know that the dolphins will still be bow-riding, the tortoises still proceeding on their ponderous migration and other groups of travellers will be as thrilled as we have been. And, with the continued work and dedication of everyone who cares for Galápagos, a group of people that we are fortunate enough to be able to join, they will continue to thrill travellers for generations to come.
