San Cristobal Island is the second oldest island in the archipelago. That is the reason some plants and animals found here are endemic to only to this island. One side has one of the driest places in Galapagos with its own flora and fauna, while the other side is one of the wettest areas in Galapagos. It features the only freshwater lake in this group of Islands and has its own flora and fauna. It is amazing to explore this oceanic archipelago aboard National Geographic Islander II.
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.