Rabida and Santiago Island, 3/30/2025, National Geographic Gemini
Aboard the
National Geographic Gemini
Galápagos
Today we explored two of the most beautiful central islands of the Galapagos. We visited Rabida Island before breakfast and found sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and were so lucky to find flamingoes feeding in a beautiful brackish pond. We also had our first snorkeling excursion of the week.
In the afternoon, we disembarked to explore the coast of Puerto Egas on Santiago Island. Here we observed marine iguanas resting along the rocky shores and many seabird species.
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.
Isabela Island accounts for over 50% of the total land mass of the Galapagos Archipelago. The island has five main active volcanoes, and every couple of years they present volcanic activity. Each volcano had developed its own kind of giant tortoise, from saddleback to dome-shaped carapaces. This interesting fact is what intrigues scientists and our National Geographic Gemini guests.
Our adventure on Santa Cruz Island began early in the morning with a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. We observed the different stages of the program, where the main attraction was the hatchling corrals. After our morning walk, we headed to the highlands to visit the ecological Trapiche Farm where me met Mr. Cabrera, heard his stories, met his family, and learned about all the sugarcane products that he harvests from the farm. Next, we went to the Manzanillo Tortoise Ranch, and after a delicious lunch we started our nature walk looking for the giants. We learned about their ecological roles, their migration routes, and why these creatures are so important for the islands. At night, we enjoyed a great performance by the Ecoarte group, local musicians and dancers that revealed more about the culture of the islands. It was a truly unforgettable day and we left Santa Cruz Island with a deeper appreciation for this remarkable ecosystem.
During a calm and nocturnal navigation, we made it to the western region of the archipelago. Here, colder temperatures enrich the waters, providing better quality and quantity of food for the species in the area. This is reflected in the size and numbers of the marine iguanas and the amazing amount of sea turtles we saw during snorkeling today at Fernandina. We are so excited to keep exploring this amazing destination aboard National Geographic Gemini. Photos by Walter Perez and Ixora Berdonces
