This morning was spent on Bartolomé Island. This island is quite new in the Galapagos chain, only 500,000 years old, according to our guide Miguel. For this reason it’s volcanic crust and ash are predominate and there is little life here besides small scrubby “pioneer plants” and the lava lizards that feed on them. It does boast the most striking views in the islands and one can see lava fields, cinder cones, torquoise bays, and pinnacle rocks from the summit.
The highlight of this passage was the snorkel trip around the island. We spent 90 minutes circumnavigating the small island by fins. With the astounding clarity of the water and brillance of sea life, it was certainly a jewel of the trip. We saw tiny little penguins tootleing about, a lazy 7 foot shark sleeping in his den, playful sea lions swimming circles around us, and masses of fish schools, sea stars, and fluorescent orange corals, purple anenames, and green sea urchins. I would have eaten them for dinner if I could!