Today we started our day on the western side of Santiago Island. After an early wake-up call, we landed at Espumilla beach, which is 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 arrived to a brackish water lagoon where we found whimbrels. Then we continued our hike through a forest of tall Palo Santos trees covered with sprouts and fresh leaves, indicating the beginning of the wet season. A couple Galápagos hawks and mockingbirds were spotted, then we went back to beach and back on 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 Zodiac ride to enjoy the impressive shoreline and snorkeling. While snorkeling we spotted surgeonfish, king angel fish, Moorish idols, parrotfish, snappers, grunts, Galápagos fur seals, white-tipped reef sharks, eagle rays, and many others species of reef fishes. The water visibility was over 30 feet and water temperature around 78F, what a great combination.
In the afternoon we landed on the black volcanic sandy beach for a hike along the coast of James, also known as 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 in them, different species of shore birds including semipalmated plover, sanderlings, ruddy turnstones, lots of marine iguanas, American oystercatchers, and much more. After witnessing an incredible sunset, we headed back to the National Geographic Islander
