1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #336 - Yellow Iguanas, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #336

- Yellow Iguanas, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

(Back to the Santa Cruz Island, we went hunting for another Galapagos-only reptile - the yellow land iguana, which can grow up to 5 feet long. Seeing it for the first time really bring back the days of the dinosaurs. Unlike their look-alikes including the komodo dragons, they are herbivores, eating only plants - see video below. An oasis on this island also attracts beautiful pink flamingos. Seeing them in the wild, and being so close to them - that's a real Galapagos feature)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #335 - Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galapagos

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #335

- Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galapagos

(The Pinnacle Rock is the famous landmark of the Galapagos, right here on the Bartolome Island, made up mostly red, orange and black volcanic rocks. Climbing up a long stretch of over 300 steps led us to the top of a volcanic cone, giving us a good view of what Mars must be like. Behind the Pinnacle, there was a colony of penguins, with a pair greeting us upon our arrival. They are the most northern penguins, with cold sea currents from Antartica making the seas here cool enough for them. Anchored here, the ship gave everyone a lovely 4-course dinner with a view to die for - a sunset and a pinnacle in Galapagos!)

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #334 - Marine Iguanas, Santiago Island, Galapagos

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #334

- Marine Iguanas, Santiago Island, Galapagos

(We sailed into the island of Santiago overnight, hopped onto the zodiac boats, and like Charles Darwin in 1835, saw some of the most unique animal life ever - from the marine iguanas, to the Galapagos hawk having his breakfast, a sealion and her pup blowing bubbles, bright red Sally Lightfoot crabs dancing, and more. Can you see that photo where I was looking at the sealion but with a blue-heron at the top of my head? A real open zoo up here and they are not afraid of humans. We were given time to cool off with some snorkelling but chose to dip in the sea instead - warm waters like Singapore, but black volcanic sand here. This is easily the most impressive field-trip I have ever been to!  )