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By Day 6, our trip was winding down.

Friday: Santiago and Santa Cruz Islands.

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Morning: Walk on Santiago, James Bay, exploring Puerto Egas. This was a really cool area with a variety of wildlife and landscape. After the walk we had an amazing snorkel — we swam with sea turtles and a young sea lion! Sea lions are very playful and like to show off.

Terrain: Wet landing on a black-sand beach, and a 2 ki walk across dry interior and then into a costal area with lava terrain.

Guide: Jorge

Sightings: Sea Lions, Galapagos Fur “Seals” (seals by name but are sea lions), Sally lightfoot crabs, finches, introduced birds (which are being eradicated,) herrons, pelicans, sea turtles.

 
*****

View Santa Cruz in a larger map

Afternoon: Hike on Santa Cruz, one of the inhabited islands. Rough wet landing, hike through the island and up a hill to look for iguanas and see the view. Area is called Dragon Hill. This was the last chance to see flamingos, but still none.

Terrain: Hot and dusty! Rocks, dry vegetation, a couple of rather dry brackish pond areas.

Guide: Fred

Sightings: Land iguanas, finches, lava gulls (rare!), other birds.

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