It was a very calm morning as we navigated to Punta Vicente Roca. From the observation deck, we enjoyed the view of many rays splashing. As we arrived, we got out the Zodiacs to explore the coast of this magical place. The geological formations are impressive, and the wildlife on the coast made it even better. Penguins posed on the rocks for our pictures, flightless cormorants dried their wings after a successful fishing, turtles popped their head out of the water to take a breath, and much more. We could not wait to snorkel in this place. In the afternoon, we visited Fernandina Island. The temperature was perfect for a walk on Punta Espinoza. What an impression it made to see so many marine iguanas at once. We had to watch our steps carefully; they were everywhere!
1/2/2025
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National Geographic Islander II
Santiago Island
The day began at Buccaneer Cove, a place steeped in history, where choppy waters did not prevent us from enjoying a magical sunrise by kayak. As we paddled, we were surrounded by impressive volcanic formations emerging from the sea, vestiges of a past marked by pirates and explorers. In the afternoon at Puerto Egas, we walked along the coast where we observed sea lions resting, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and land iguanas. The highlight of the outing was when a female sea lion gave birth to a pup, which quickly attracted three Galapagos hawks, who fed on the placenta. In a protective act, the mother sea lion moved the baby to an improvised shelter to protect it from predators. This sighting was a vivid reminder of the delicate ecological balance of the Galapagos, where hawks, as top predators, and sea lions, with their protective instinct, play crucial roles in the survival and adaptation of species.
