Floreana Island, 6/23/2024, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
This island has everything an explorer can imagine, from human history to outstanding wildlife, both underwater and on land. The island also has a postal system that dates to whaling times. Visitors to Post Office Bay can use the system just like people did in the past.
We spotted many species of birds and enjoyed great snorkeling. We observed turtles, sea lions, and rays. The surrounding waters are teeming with all kinds of underwater animals. We took a great walk in the afternoon to see the various animals that have adapted to island life. Our observations showcased the wonderful world of the Galapagos Islands.
Patricio, better known as Pato amongst his friends, was born in the Galápagos Islands. His family moved to the islands from the mainland and settled on the island of Santa Cruz over thirty-five years ago. Pato had an enchanted childhood in the island...
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It is the last day of our expedition, and we visited San Cristobal Island. This island is inhabited, but our expedition took us to one of the most remote areas of this island. Punta Pitt is home to many birds that nest here as well, such as blue-footed boobies and red-footed boobies. We also found several frigatebirds nesting by the cliffs. This area provided spectacular views and wonderful wildlife sightings during the whole walk. In the afternoon, we disembarked with our guests at Cerro Brujo Beach, one of the largest and most magnificent beaches in the Galapagos. Sea lions are the welcoming party at this place, the beach is white, and its sand very soft. There’s no better way to end our expedition!
We woke up to the beautiful view of Gardner Bay off the coast of the oldest of the Galapagos Islands. After breakfast, we went to explore a long white sandy beach in search of wildlife. Along the beach, we encountered a small colony of sea lions, Espanola lava lizards, hood mockingbirds, and a few species of Darwin finches. After the walk at the beach, we went deep water snorkeling around Gardner Islet. We encountered a few playful Galapagos sea lions and several Pacific green sea turtles resting on the bottom of the ocean. Snorkeling was a blast! We saw large schools of fish, as well as plenty of marine invertebrates on the vertical wall. After lunch, we navigated towards Punta Suarez, another land visitor site on Espanola. Punta Suarez offers the opportunity to see the waved albatross, a species of bird endemic to Espanola. We encountered large colonies of marine iguanas along the trail, sea lion pups, and a large colony of Nazca boobies. This hike is breathtaking; we spotted many blue-footed boobies with chicks and others in their courtship display. During the hike, we even spotted a couple of Galapagos hawks soaring in the sky. After the hike, we returned to National Geographic Islander II to continue exploring the enchanted archipelago.
We start moving very early in the morning, visiting Post Office Bay, a historical site set up by whalers to communicate with relatives back home. This site is still in use by visitors for the fun of it. Exploring the place by Zodiac brings us close to the amazing wildlife around. Later in the morning, we anchored just off Champion Islet, where we snorkeled to discover Galapagos’ underwater world. Some chose to see it through the glass-bottom boat. The day continued at Cormorant Point, where we hiked from a beach with unique volcanic sand and peridot rock to a coralline white sand beach, passing a brackish water lagoon in between. Each location showcased its own beauty and distinct ecology, shaped by diverse and unique flora and fauna. A great day on Floreana Island.
