Floreana is known as the island of the mysteries and tragedies. In this isolated spot, many settlers came to colonize the Galapagos, and there are many stories about humans and the difficult challenge of surviving in this inhospitable place. In the morning, we visited Post Office Bay, a legendary site visited by buccaneers, pirates, whalers, and intrepid sailors more than 200 years ago. Kayaking was a great way to explore the shoreline full of wildlife. Then we went for a Zodiac tour around Champion Islet, located near the main island. We snorkeled and enjoyed the astonishing experience of swimming with sea lions, turtles, sharks, and multicolored fish. In the afternoon, we went to Cormorant Point for an amazing walk. We visited a large brackish lagoon with a few dozen greater flamingos and other migratory birds, such as plovers, whimbrels, and stilts. The big surprise was on the other side of the point, where we saw marine turtles on the white sand beach. They were mating or warming up under the sun. We had an incredible journey.
10/29/2024
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National Geographic Islander II
San Cristobal Island
Our day in the Galapagos began at Punta Pitt, where we made a wet landing on volcanic sand, greeted immediately by a baby sea lion and a white morph red-footed booby at the shore. We started our ascent up the hill, spotting numerous red-footed boobies along the way and even a blue-footed booby! The landscape was breathtaking, with vibrant red hues in the vegetation and layers of orange tuff stone creating a stunning backdrop. In the afternoon, we explored Cerro Brujo on the western side of San Cristobal Island. After landing on semi-volcanic sand, we strolled among large colonies of sea lions, leading us to a stretch of pure, powdery white sand. We joined our wellness specialist for a stretching session, then walked along the beautiful beach, marveling at the unique volcanic landscape around us. Before the sun set, we returned to National Geographic Islander II and our captain took us to Kicker Rock, an iconic eroded ash cone and a nesting site for many seabirds. With the rock glowing in the evening light, our guests raised a final toast to celebrate an unforgettable day in this extraordinary place.