North Seymour and Rabida Islands, 6/18/2024, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
We visited North Seymour in the morning. This island is a sea bird paradise. We observed some of the most iconic sea birds from Galapagos, such as the blue-footed boobie and frigatebirds.
In the afternoon, we went snorkeling from the beach on Rábida Island. We also explored this island by land and by kayaking.
A beautiful sunset was the perfect way to close a great day in Galapagos.
Javier grew up on Santa Cruz island where his grandparents first arrived in the 1940´s. Veritable pioneers, his grandparents settled in the highlands where they found a place to raise their children.
Today was an amazing day from sunrise to sunset. We explored the beautiful North Seymour Island in the first part of the day. So many birds! We even saw the fascinating courtship dance of the blue-footed boobies. What a treat! In the afternoon, we went for our first snorkeling experience in the Galapagos, swimming with sea lions and so many fish. To end our day, we had the option to go for a photo-oriented or natural history walk along the astonishing red sand beach of Rabida Island. I oversaw the photo-oriented walk, and we had so much fun. Our guests put into practice what they learned during the photo presentation we had yesterday, and the result was amazing. We cannot wait for another day full of adventures in the Galapagos Archipelago.
Our first full day had plenty of wonderful surprises as we disembarked in Puerto Ayora, the main town on Santa Cruz Island. As soon as we arrived, we took a bus all the way to the highlands of Santa Cruz until we reached El Trapiche Farm, a unique site where the guests of National Geographic Islander II learned about the production of organic coffee, cocoa, and sugarcane liquor. Afterwards, we visited the Twin Craters. This amazing site is comprised of two incredible pit craters formed by the collapse of volcanic magma chambers. The area is surrounded by a forest of the unique Scalesia pedunculata, a tree that is endemic to the area. The spectacular visit to El Manzanillo Ranch gave us the opportunity to walk among the incredible Galapagos giant tortoises, often found in the early afternoon having lunch and resting. Being surrounded by these gentle giants was the best way of ending our visit.
Our day began with an early morning landing at Punta Pitt, located on the northeastern tip of San Cristóbal Island. Known for its striking eroded tuff formations, the island rewarded us with a panoramic view of the bay. We were fortunate to see a couple of blue-footed boobies in full courtship mode, including sky-pointing and whistling. Meanwhile, frigatebirds soared overhead. After the hike, we cooled off with a snorkeling session and were treated to playful sea lions. In the afternoon, we visited the iconic Cerro Brujo (Witch’s Hill), a site known for its impressive white coral sand beach and crystal-clear turquoise waters. We encountered wildlife here, including marine iguanas, oystercatchers, and sea lions. We finished the day by circumnavigating the remains of an old volcano and one of the most iconic landscapes in Galapagos, Kicker Rock, which was serenely lit up at sunset.
