Tuesday 21 Feb 2012. Santiago and Bartolome Island

Wet landing onto the beach at 7.45 but took walking shoes. This used to be a salt-mining area and we could see evidence of human habitation. The caves and lava tunnels were spectacular, forming arches over the sea – we watched sea lions and fur seals in one of the caves (open to the sky) on ledges with the sea surging in and out. The rocks were a bit slippery. Went swimming from the beach – the sand was again a bit hot! We watched fascinated as 2 sea lions blew millions of bubbles into a cave trying to dislodge some fish. The bubbles were streaming and glistening to the surface and, every now and then, one of the sea lions would shoot up to the surface and fully out of the sea, then dive straight back down to recommence blowing bubbles. Someone saw a shark coming out of the cleft in the same cave, but I did not. On the way back to the beach, Jan and I saw a marine iguana swimming and I followed, viewing it from underneath – quite exciting! 11.45 went to Buccaneer’s Cove and then Bartolome Island and the climb to view Pinnacle Rock, the most famous of the landmarks on the Galapagos Islands.

Hilary on the slope and 731 steps which lead to the top of the hill overlooking Pinnacle Rock

A sunken volcanic cone seen from the 731 steps

The intrepid explorer - view to Pinnacle Rock

Jan on a lava tunnel bridge - looks precarious but was sound as a rock!!