Floreana Island, 4/3/2022, National Geographic Islander
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander
Galápagos
Floreana Island was the first island colonized by Ecuadorian people. The island was severely impacted by the many domestic animals that ran wild after colonization.
Almost a century later, the Galapagos National Park is working with a restoration program. The program has been a success; its impact is easy to see at first glimpse. It is almost impossible to believe that this island was impacted and then fully restored in a record period of time. After witnessing so many amazing sights, National Geographic Islander guests could really appreciate the big changes that took place on the island. We encountered blue-footed boobies, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos flamingos, and many endemic plants. Guests also enjoyed the most amazing snorkeling experience in the Galapagos.
Walter was born in a very small town on the mainland of Ecuador. His first trip to the Galápagos was when he was 12 years old, visiting friends and aunt, who had moved to the islands. From the first moment he saw the Islands, he fell in love with the...
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We woke up to a view of North Seymour Island and plenty of seabirds flying along the coastline. At about 1.7 sq km, North Seymour is a small island. The island is an uplifting, which is a rising of the ocean floor caused by the movement of tectonic plates. After a dry landing on the rocky shores, we explored farther inland and encountered a large variety of seabirds. Male frigatebirds displayed courtship rituals, blue-footed boobies danced, and land iguanas basked under the sun. What a great welcoming committee! This island offers visitors an opportunity to learn about the native and endemic flora of the Galapagos. As we walked through the incense tree forest, we observed prickly pear cacti. During our walk, some of us spotted a juvenile eastern Galapagos racer, a snake endemic to the Galapagos Islands. After the hike, we returned to the ship to get fitted for snorkeling equipment and to enjoy an incredible Andean lunch. During the afternoon, we visited Rábida Island, a place covered in red cliffs and a red sandy beach. This exploration was quite exotic; it was almost like walking on Mars with shades of red as far as one can see. During the beach exploration, we had the opportunity to snorkel. While in the water, playful Galapagos sea lions came to play with us and gave us quite the show. After snorkeling, we changed into dry clothes and went for a stroll along the beach. Behind the saltbush vegetation, we encountered a couple American flamingos nesting, some Galapagos mockingbirds, and a few Darwin’s finches. What an incredible day we had in this enchanted archipelago.
Guests spent the day exploring the island of Santa Cruz. One of four inhabited islands in the Galapagos, Santa Cruz has the largest human population and is considered the economic hub of the province. We spent the morning at a beautiful ranch in the highlands looking for Santa Cruz giant tortoises. We walked the trails, spotting giant tortoises and learning about the behavioral ecology of these magnificent creatures. We spent quite some time taking photos. After a delicious lunch, we visited the giant tortoise breeding center at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here we had the opportunity to learn about important efforts to protect species of giant tortoises from extinction. We ended the day with a great visit by some local artists who came on board to share the wonderful creations they make, which are inspired by these islands.
San Cristobal has its own giant tortoise population, as well as endemic lava lizards and snakes. These are examples of adaptive radiation in the archipelago. We have had a successful week full of great memories. The unique and friendly animals found in this group of islands are not found anywhere else on our planet.
