Bartolome and Cerro Dragon , 11/26/2022, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
Our day began with a short Zodiac ride and a pre-breakfast hike on Bartolome Island, followed by a delicious breakfast and water activities. We visited Dragon Hill in the afternoon and spotted land iguanas, flamingos, marine iguanas, shorebirds, and sea lions. We admired the wonderful scenery and the amazing geological formations.
Born and raised in the Galápagos, Roberta Schiess Bahamonde’s grandparents were among the first permanent inhabitants of Santa Cruz Island, arriving from Switzerland in the 1940s. Her mother is also a naturalist guide in the Galápagos, so this is a p...
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Today our guests had the opportunity to visit San Cristóbal Island, one of the oldest islands at about 4 million years old. We visited Punta Pitt very early in the morning where we disembarked on its incredible green-sand beach. Soon after, we hiked along a tuff cone volcano’s trail where our guests saw the three species of boobies that inhabit the Galapagos. The highlight was the red-footed boobies that we saw for the first time. After the hike, our guests had time to relax and snorkel from the beach. In the afternoon, our guests enjoyed beautiful Cerro Brujo Beach, considered one of the top 10 best beaches in the world to visit. Cerro Brujo, with its turquoise waters, allowed us to relax and enjoy the ocean and the unique wildlife. And finally, to end this incredible day, we sailed around Kicker Rock where our guests said goodbye to this beautiful island on the southeast side of the archipelago.
Today, we had the opportunity to visit Española Island, the oldest island in the Galápagos, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife. We began our morning with a kayaking activity in Gardner Bay where we encountered playful sea lions, majestic green sea turtles, and witnessed an unforgettable sunrise over the calm waters. After this peaceful experience, we disembarked onto Gardner Beach where we walked along the soft, fine sand of this magical place, home to one of the largest sea lion colonies in the Galápagos. We even had the chance to swim with these incredible creatures, watching them play joyfully in the waves. In the afternoon, we explored Punta Suárez where we observed an astonishing variety of wildlife. We spotted Galápagos hawks soaring above us, marine iguanas basking in the sun, and lava lizards darting across the rocks. The Española mockingbirds, known for their curiosity, came close to inspect us. The abundance of wildlife in this amazing place was truly a sight to behold. What a wonderful day we had exploring Española!
Floreana Island has a rich human history marked by early exploration, colonization attempts, and intrigue. This island became a stopover for pirates and whalers in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. In 1832, Ecuador claimed the Galápagos, and Floreana saw its first official settlement. Today, Floreana is home to a small community focused on conservation and sustainable tourism.
