Today was a magnificent day. It started just after daybreak with a climb of over 380 steps to the top of a tuff cone, a famous part of Bartholomew Island. We stopped at the beach after breakfast for a refreshing dip that hit the spot. Then we headed off to explore the deeper waters along the coast of the island. After our morning hike, we looked forward to two snorkeling opportunities and an outing in the glass-bottom boat. In the afternoon, we enjoyed deep-water snorkeling in the channel and Zodiac tours. We had three chances to get in the water with water temperatures around 80° F. What a great day.
5/2/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Sombrero Chino Islands
We awoke at sunrise and observed the majestic Bartolomé Island showered by the first sunrays of the morning. Our first hike of the day was invigorating, almost 400 steps to the summit of Bartolomé to appreciate the astonishing beauty of the surroundings. What an amazing view! We saw several parasitic volcanoes, an underwater crater, golden sandy beach, and the many shades of blue of the ocean. On our way back to National Geographic Endeavour II, we took a detour to search for the iconic Galapagos penguins and we found them. Yay! Our afternoon destination was Chinese Hat, a small island surrounded by lava fields, fine white sand, and crystal-clear waters. We went snorkeling and swimming and had more encounters with Galapagos penguins. They’re so fast, they look like they’re flying under the water. The day wouldn’t have been complete without a sunset exploration by Zodiac to explore the coasts of Santiago Island and Chinese Hat. Some friendly sea lions greeted us with their spectacular, playful behavior. Soon, we found ourselves riding back under the light of the sunset with the impressive volcanic background of the Galapagos.