Travels in the Galapagos Islands (Part 6) – Santa Fe and Black Turtle Cove

Santa Fe is 20 kilometers southeast of Santa Cruz and has an area of 24 square kilometers. Formed from a tectonic uplift instead of from a volcano, it is relatively flat in comparison to most other islands in the archipelago. Tourists know Santa Fe for its forest of Opuntia cactus (aka Prickly Pear cactus), its own species of land iguanas and the enchanting cove surrounding Barrington Bay on the northeastern side of the island.

The day began with a wet landing onto a sand beach already claimed by a large number of sea lions.  We walked past large males, harems of females and newborn pups as we headed up a sloping trail toward the interior of Santa Fe.  This is where the Opuntia forest grows.  These cacti are the biggest in the Galapagos Islands and can reach up to 10 meters high.  Around their bases, sit the Santa Fe Land Iguanas waiting patiently for a prickly pear to drop to the ground.  The iguanas may look slow, but when a cactus fruit falls, watch out.  In the blink of an eye, all within reach will pounce, the spoiling going to the fastest one. 

Back near the shore, two large sharks circled in front of the sea lion colony waiting for their next meal to enter the water.  We watched for a while to see what would happen next, but the sea lions had a lot more patience than we did.  The group returned to the Sulliday for lunch and an afternoon snorkel before weighing anchor later in the evening.

We were nearing the end of our pirate adventure in the Galapagos.  Our last day arrived as if without warning.  Earlier that last morning, well before sunrise, we headed out in the Panga one last time to Black Turtle Cove on the island of Santa Cruz.  There, in the still waters of the cove, in the quiet grey of early morning, we drifted without motor into a world of rays, sharks and sea turtles passing effortlessly beneath us.  It was a fitting end to an incredible voyage, but alas, it was time to go.  There were new Adventures in Traveling waiting at our next destination.

 Yo Ho! Yo Ho!  It’s the pirate life for me!