This oceanic archipelago was formed millions of year ago due to intense volcanic activity, and it was never connected to any continental mass—it means these islands were born from the ocean floor.
This week we are going to explore different islands in this part of this world, and this morning, on our first full day in Galápagos, we had the chance to disembark at North Seymour, this small geological formation that is the result of an uplifting mechanical process, when molting rock combined with water and gases can cause a lot of pressure, islands like North Seymour can be formed in a short period of time, and sometimes even larger areas, and in Galápagos we have lot of examples.
In this Oceanic Archipelago each geological formation has its own enchantment and interest, and this morning in North Seymour our highlights were frigatebirds with fully inflated pouches and blue-footed boobies performing the classical booby dance. These two iconic species of Galápagos have unique courtship displays in order to attract a mate. And this morning they performed for our guests.
Those two extraordinary sighting, plus the melodious singing from the famous Darwin finches, the territorial land iguanas, and the always playful Galápagos sea lions brought peace and happiness to our hearts.
In the afternoon we had a very different plan for Rabida Island. We started by sending people to the beach to practice snorkeling and get some tips for exploring the Galápagos undersea. Soon after we sent a few groups deep water snorkeling, and as soon as we were in the water, we noticed the presence of tunicates, which form part of plankton and sometimes they are bought to Galápagos by oceanic currents and in big masses with warm waters. We also had a chance to see turtles, sharks, colorful fishes, and a single Galápagos penguin fishing in the area. Glass-bottom boating was also offered for those who wanted to explore the undersea realm while staying dry.
We finished our day with a short hike to see some endemic and native plants on Rabida Island and an easy walk along the beach to photograph sea lions and shore birds and a beautiful Galápagos sunset.
Another magical day in this paradise.
