We spent our last full day in the Galapagos on San Cristobal. This is the first island that Darwin saw after navigating nine days from the coast of Perú. In Punta Pitt, our visiting site for the morning, we encountered a very different trail than on previous days. This time, we walked uphill along a waterworn ravine. San Cristobal is located in the eastern part of the archipelago. It is one of the oldest islands of the Galapagos. From the top, we enjoyed a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean and got a closer look at red-footed boobies.
5/2/2024
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Sombrero Chino Islands
We awoke at sunrise and observed the majestic Bartolomé Island showered by the first sunrays of the morning. Our first hike of the day was invigorating, almost 400 steps to the summit of Bartolomé to appreciate the astonishing beauty of the surroundings. What an amazing view! We saw several parasitic volcanoes, an underwater crater, golden sandy beach, and the many shades of blue of the ocean. On our way back to National Geographic Endeavour II, we took a detour to search for the iconic Galapagos penguins and we found them. Yay! Our afternoon destination was Chinese Hat, a small island surrounded by lava fields, fine white sand, and crystal-clear waters. We went snorkeling and swimming and had more encounters with Galapagos penguins. They’re so fast, they look like they’re flying under the water. The day wouldn’t have been complete without a sunset exploration by Zodiac to explore the coasts of Santiago Island and Chinese Hat. Some friendly sea lions greeted us with their spectacular, playful behavior. Soon, we found ourselves riding back under the light of the sunset with the impressive volcanic background of the Galapagos.