South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands, 3/20/2025, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
With a very relaxing pre-breakfast hike, our day began. We had a nice time seeing iguanas and lots of cacti. In the afternoon, we visited Santa Fe Island where we snorkeled with a bunch of reef fish species and even saw a hawksbill turtle, a rare discovery of the day. We finished the day surrounded by sea lions and the pale land iguanas from Santa Fe. At night we enjoyed a nice barbecue dinner.
Bernardo, known by his friends and family as Bernie, was born In the Andean city of Quito, located in the highlands of Ecuador. His grandfather, however, moved to the Galapagos Islands in the mid-70s, and worked as one of the first Naturalist Guides,...
South Plazas is a small island of the Galapagos archipelago, with vibrant vegetation, a big colony of Galapagos land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, and Galapagos sea lions along the coast. It’s awesome to walk through this rocky terrain on this sunny morning, while at the same time being surrounded by this spectacular wildlife. Afterward we returned to National Geographic Islander II , enjoyed a delicious breakfast, and then set out for kayaking with sea lions playing beside us. In the afternoon we reached our second destination of the day, Santa Fe Island, which is another stunning site with unique wildlife. Our first activity was snorkeling, where we were surrounded by different kinds of fish and some young, playful Galapagos sea lions. Later we went for a hike and looked for the Santa Fe land iguana, a species exclusive to this site. We found a few of them getting ready for the night, walking to their burrows where they sleep. We were mesmerized by the size and the yellow coloration of this precious reptile.
Our day began with a wet landing on the coral sand beach of Darwin’s Bay. As we set foot on Genovesa Island — a remote, horseshoe-shaped volcanic caldera in the northern Galápagos — we were immediately immersed in one of the most unique seabird nesting sites in the archipelago. We observed nesting colonies of red-footed boobies, while nearby Nazca boobies and frigatebirds added to the morning spectacle with their calls and displays. The males of the latter species inflated their bright red gular sacs, hoping to attract mates. In the afternoon, we conducted a dry landing at Prince Philip’s Steps, named after the late Duke of Edinburgh, who visited this area in the 1960s. A staircase carved into the cliff led us up to a plateau of sparse Palo Santo forest and a dramatic lava field. This site offered a different ecological setting, where we encountered numerous storm petrels fluttering low over the terrain. These birds are a key reason for visiting this area, as they attract one of the Galápagos’ more elusive predators: the short-eared owl. We were fortunate to spot one of these cryptic hunters nestled among the rocks, a rare and memorable highlight.
Today’s adventure began bright and early with an unforgettable kayaking experience around the beautiful Chinese Hat Bay. As the sun began to rise, we enjoyed a light stretching session on the beach, taking in the peaceful morning atmosphere. And the day only got better as the sun climbed higher in the sky. After a delicious breakfast, we set out for a second round of kayaking, gliding through the calm waters surrounded by stunning scenery. Later in the morning, we went snorkeling and had the incredible opportunity to swim alongside our aquatic friends — a truly magical experience. Our boat then set sail toward our next destination: the breathtaking Sullivan Bay. Along the way, we were lucky enough to spot flamingos inside a volcanic crater — a rare and fascinating sight. This was followed by a delightful Ecuadorian-style lunch on board. In the afternoon, we continued our adventure with another snorkeling session, then set out on a guided walk across the dramatic lava fields. To cap off the day, a Zodiac ride offered us a closer look at the spectacular landscape and, to our delight, a glimpse of some tiny penguins… though they proved quite elusive!
