It is the last day of the year 2015 and there is no better place to finalize a great year than visiting the island that witnessed the arrival of the greatest naturalist of all time, Charles Darwin.
Today we had an early outing on the southwestern corner of Santiago Island. Eager to follow Charles Darwin’s footsteps, we disembark at 6:30 am on Espumilla beach. The calm water of the morning allowed many Pacific green sea turtles congregate close to shore in high numbers for mating purposes. The sand dunes surrounded by mangroves are also a great place for sea turtles to nest, and we were able to see one that was just leaving the scene. After exploring the beach a small path took us behind where a seasonal brackish lagoon has formed. A couple of flamingos surprised us with their courting display. After exploring among boobies, hawks and pelicans we headed back to the National Geographic Islander.
After breakfast we headed back to investigate the natural world. On this occasion we had kayak and Zodiac rides along the most mysterious coastline of “Buccaneer Cove” to search for seabirds. The underwater world was also enjoyable today. Sharks, sea lions, rays and a mosaic of tropical fish were seen in the calm, crystal clear water.
In the afternoon we set foot on Puerto Egas, formerly known as James Bay. The basaltic shoreline house tidal pools for migratory birds, Galapagos fur seals and marine iguanas. While many of us enjoyed a fascinating walk, others chose to stay on the beach to relax and to continue snorkeling. An outstanding day finished with a great view of the towering volcanoes of Isabela Island that were illuminated by the last beams of light before the sun set on the horizon.
