DAY 3
AM: Puerto Egas
Also known as James Bay, this visitor site gets its name from the salt mining company that was started by Mr. Hector Egas in the 1960s, but the costs of bringing the salt to the mainland were too high, and the company closed after a couple of years.
Today, Puerto Egas is a popular visitor site, with a trail that lets visitor walk along the beach and then to the nearby lava filed, where fur sea lions hide from the sun in the natural grottos, sharing the space with the Galapagos hawk, lava lizards, and marine iguanas. Puerto Egas is also a very good place for snorkeling or swimming directly from the beautiful beach.
PM: Buccaneer Cove & Espumilla Beach
Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. They would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. It is an excellent opportunity to take in the steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach. See if you can spot ‘Monk’ or ‘Elephant’ Rock before your guide points them out!
Espumilla Beach is a popular place for marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs. The crabs attract the hunting herons performing the dance of predator and prey. With an abundance of marine life including octopi, moray eels, and sharks, snorkeling is highly recommended.