This particular Santa Fe is an island in the Galapagos. Sometimes it’s also referred to as Barrington Island, after a naval admiral.

Each night before dinner our guide Eduardo posts the schedule for the following day, along with an updated map to track our progress.

On tap for this morning:

6:45 – wake-up call

7:00 – breakfast

7:45 – wet landing (bring good footwear for walking)

9:15 – back on board, get ready for snorkeling

9:30 – deep water snorkeling

10:30 – back on board; navigate to South Plaza

12:00 – lunch

We disembark from the pangas, change into good footwear, and follow Eduardo across the desert-like terrain.

I turn back to snap a shot of the turquoise bay we arrived in.

The landscape is dotted with giant cacti, specifically the Giant Opuntia Prickly Pear Cactus.

And while we saw Marine Iguanas on Espanola Island, this was our first time meeting Land Iguanas. Their yellow skin color camouflages them well into the surrounding rocks.

And of course, we encounter more sea lions. It’s day four and we’ve stopped photographing every single one.

This one starts scratching his belly, like a dog would with its hind leg. Are you kidding me? So stinkin’ cute.

It’s fascinating to watch them walk on their back legs. You’d think they’d be slow but they get around quickly.

This is our last day together. Tomorrow the others will return to mainland Ecuador and I’ll be joined by a new group of people.

Stay tuned for our afternoon on South Plaza — the landscapes are incredible. More tomorrow!