Today, guests enjoyed observing countless sea turtles while kayaking at Gardner Bay on Española Island. After breakfast, some of us went snorkeling, and we found sea lions, turtles, and plenty of colorful fish. Others opted for a relaxed morning stroll on Gardner Beach, one of the most spectacular beaches on the islands. Lunch was delicious, as always. After a well-deserved nap, our guests put on their hiking shoes and boarded the Zodiac to explore the jewel of the crown: Punta Suarez. We walked along this riverbed-like trail. Sea lions and their newborns were one of the main attractions. We got to see our first waved albatross, a species that only nests on this tiny island of the archipelago. Our afternoon was full of wildlife and happiness, and it was a very emotional experience for most.
5/27/2025
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National Geographic Islander II
San Cristobal Island
For the last full day of our expedition, we began with a beautiful early morning hike at Punta Pitt, in the northeast section of the island. This place is unique for its interesting landscape, and for being one of the three main places where red-footed boobies nest in the Galapagos. We had to walk uphill for several minutes, but we were well rewarded: we spotted blue-footed and red-footed boobies nesting, as well as some red-footed booby chicks. It was a great morning walk and everyone enjoyed. After a delicious breakfast on board, we returned to the beach for the last snorkeling of the trip; we saw sea turtles, sea lions, a lot of fish, and we even spotted an octopus hunting. As we were navigating to our site for the afternoon, we were so lucky to encounter pilot whales and dolphins. In the afternoon we visited one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos, Cerro Brujo. Here white sand mixes with the black lava field to create a special contrast, where some guests enjoyed a last chance to swim in the Galapagos waters and enjoy the wildlife around.
