Today was an inimitable and inspiring day full of unforgettable moments!!! From newborn sea lions to hybrid iguanas there were plenty of surprises. The Galápagos National Park Service has labored to restore their ecosystems since 1977. Currently South Plaza and Santa Fe islands can be considered the Land of Dragons.
The morning outing on South Plaza, a small island off the east coast of Santa Cruz Island, is formed by lava streaming up from the bottom of the ocean and has a great variety of wildlife. Despite its small size this marvelous island is home to the healthiest colonies of the Galápagos land iguanas. The unique flora, that changes in color according to the present season, makes this small piece of land remarkable.
Along the basaltic coastline we saw red-billed tropicbirds, Galápagos shearwaters, and swallow-tailed gulls, but most of us were captivated by the beautiful view from the top of this steep cliff and the prickly pear cactus forest.
The afternoon outing gave us another taste of the wonders of the Galápagos Islands. The snorkeling was the popular activity among us. The calm bay of Santa Fe Island, known as Barrington back in the 17th century among whalers and buccaneers, offers one of the most relaxing areas for aquatic activities. Throughout the snorkeling and kayaking our eager explorers got to see sea turtles, eagle rays and a variety of fish. The turquoise, crystal clear water was perfect for locating marine creatures.
Afterwards we went ashore to explore the island. Geologically, Santa Fe is one of the oldest islands in the Galápagos with volcanic rocks that are dated up to 4 million years old. The vegetation of this island is characterized by yellow cordia, croton, scalesia, palo santo, and one of the largest prickly pear cacti found in the Galápagos archipelago, Opuntia echios barringtonensis. Along the path we found the endemic Barrington land iguanas (Conolophus pallidus) as well as the endemic rise rat.
Our quest ended on a white sand beach where a large colony of sea lions was resting. The silence of our explorers allowed us to listen to sea lions and the songs performed by mockingbirds and Darwin finches. The peaceful moment took us to another dimension to meditate about how breathtaking the day was.
