Day 26 - Isla Santiago

We thought it was going to be less rough after the equator and it was while we had dinner, but then the captain speeded up and we were soon pitching about.  We decided on a hasty retreat up stairs to our cabin and spent the early part of the night being pitched around. Fortunately we arrived at Santiago Island in the early hours and then managed to get a good night’s sleep.
We were up early for a panga ride at Playa Espumilla/Bucanero.  It started with the usual trip along the coast looking at rock formations and birds, but very soon we saw a school of dolphins a little way out and followed them for quite some time as they played around the Pangas. Needless to say no-one got a photo of two dolphins jumping out of the water together.

Then we went back to looking at the rocks and birds before going back to the boat and then kayaking across the bay.
After lunch on the upper deck, we moved to Puerto Egos where we did our second wet landing and went for a walk along the foreshore.  There are some remains of Hector Egas’ salt mining enterprise and a lighthouse, but mostly there are sea lions.

Some birds seen on Santiago island (clockwise from top left) - Heron, American Oystercatcher, Yellow Warbler, Galapagos Hawk


Then it was back to the boat for a rest before dinner.  The food is very good, but it is eat, eat, eat with 3 meals plus snacks and drinks every time we return to the boat.

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