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, 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.
With a very relaxing morning at Bartholomew, our day began. We enjoyed our first snorkeling session of the week. We had a lovely time with penguins and whitetip reef sharks. In the afternoon we had the chance to head over to Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island where we found several land iguanas and a few blue-footed boobies on the way.
