Bartolome and Rábida, both satellite islands of Santiago, are among the most beautiful and interesting sites of the Galapagos. Bartolome is the perfect place to study geology and see firsthand the colonization of flora and fauna in the Galapagos. Rábida Island is home to pink flamingos, a brackish lagoon, and a picturesque red sand beach. Today guests had the opportunity to explore both locations and enjoy some water activities such a snorkeling and kayaking.
5/6/2025
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National Geographic Islander II
North Seymour and Rabida Islands
At 6:30 in the morning, some guests joined us for an expedition on North Seymour Island, which is slowly losing its green color due to the beginning of the dry season. It is a perfect time of year to see blue-footed booby couples starting to reproduce with the typical courtship displays and a good number of male frigatebirds with their red gular sack inflated. We encountered a good number of healthy land iguanas since they still have a lot of food, thanks to the previous wet season. While navigating to Rabida Island, bottlenose dolphins escorted National Geographic Islander II for at least 45 minutes, and guests had an excellent time watching them. In the afternoon, we snorkeled from the beach with colorful fish and young, playful sea lions who put on a great show. At the end of the day some guests took a walk on the red colored sand and watched American flamingos behind the dune at a saltwater lagoon. Others went kayaking along the coast full of land and sea birds.
