It was a fun morning as we crossed the equator onboard National Geographic Islander. As soon as we arrived to Punta Vicente Roca, we lowered our Zodiacs and the adventure started. We found a large number of blue-footed boobies resting on small ledges of tuff cone. We spotted several young hammerhead sharks in the water; they even swam close to our Zodiacs! We returned to the ship to get ready for snorkeling. Pacific green sea turtles and Galapagos penguins surrounded us, and it was amazing! We spent the afternoon at Fernandina Island, where we saw hundreds of Galapagos marine iguanas, Galapagos sea lions, colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs and the predator of the archipelago, the Galapagos hawk. It was a fantastic day in paradise!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 15 Feb 2022
Isabela and Fernandina Islands, 2/15/2022, National Geographic Islander
- Aboard the National Geographic Islander
- Galápagos
Vanessa Gallo, Naturalist
Vanessa Gallo’s grandparents arrived in the Galápagos Islands in 1936, making her the third generation of her family to live and work in this magical archipelago. She left the islands for the capital city of Quito for high school, where she discovere...
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Galápagos Escape: An 8-Day Voyage
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Isabela and Fernandina Islands
Our day began with a unique moment, crossing the equator in the early morning hours as we sailed toward Punta Vicente Roca on the northwestern tip of Isabela Island. A traditional celebration marked the occasion, with cheers from the deck and a chance to reflect on our passage over one of Earth’s most iconic geographic lines. After breakfast, we boarded Zodiacs to explore the coastal cliffs and caves of Punta Vicente Roca. The towering remnants of a submerged volcanic caldera create a dramatic backdrop, rich in both geology and wildlife. Along the rugged shoreline, we observed flightless cormorants, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and a number of Galápagos fur seals resting in shaded crevices. Following a scenic navigation across the Bolívar Channel, we arrived at Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island, the youngest and most volcanically active island in the Galápagos./p> In the water, we were surrounded by an abundance of marine life, including sea turtles and agile marine iguanas feeding underwater. After drying off, we set out on a walk across the striking lava landscape. The marine iguana colonies were particularly impressive today, with hundreds gathered together to absorb the warmth of the afternoon sun.
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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.