The Galapagos expedition brought us to the center of the archipelago today. Santiago Island was our destination, and in order to begin our journey, we disembarked at Espumilla Beach. After a comfortable wet landing on a brown colored beach, we started exploring the mangrove forest found in the area. The presence of yellow warblers and Galapagos mockingbirds surprised us for a delightful photo opportunity.
Farther into the trail, an impressive incense tree forest decorated our path with exuberant vegetation. Galapagos hawks, lava lizards, and Galapagos doves were part of the highlights found in the area. On our way back to the beginning of the trail, the presence of a large sea turtle nesting place enhanced our experience. Once back on board the National Geographic Endeavour, we started navigation in order to reach our next destination: Buccaneer Cove.
The snorkeling activity was a delightful opportunity to experience the wonders of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. As soon as we got into the water, a display of colors was seen as colorful invertebrates covered the rocky reef. A school of cow-nosed golden rays awed us once we reached the deepest area. Colorful reef fishes, white-tipped reef sharks, and Galapagos sea lions made our experience perfect as we explored the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
In the afternoon exploration got better. The best way to begin our adventure was to sightsee James Bay. The lava grottos found at the farthest point of the trail gave us the biggest surprise of the moment: the Galapagos fur seal. The coastal trail was a splendid display of Galapagos nature combined with a few migratory shore birds. Marine iguanas, Galapagos sea lions, ruddy turnstones, and semi-palmated plovers made our experience perfect throughout the visit. The sun setting behind the horizon was the indicator that tomorrow will offer even more in the living paradise of the Galapagos Islands.
