Bartolome Island and Dragon Hill, 1/20/2024, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
Today we went to Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill) and Bartolome Islands. We went early in the morning for a power hike to get to the top of a tuff cone. The view of the moonscape and spatter cones was stunning from the top.
Later we went snorkeling and found penguins mating, a sea lion watched us as he passed, and we saw a beautiful white tip reef shark. In the afternoon we found hundreds of blue footed boobies on the rocks and then suddenly they went plunge diving to catch fish.
Maria Dolores, know by all as Lola, is originally from the large Ecuadorian port city of Guayaquil, but fell in love with the Galapagos as a young girl and has lived here now for over two decades. She is very passionate about everything concerning th...
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We had another spectacular day on San Cristobal Island, the fifth largest island in the archipelago. We anchored at Punta Pitt and did an early morning activity. Our guests chose between a Zodiac ride or a 1.5-mile hike around giant tuff formations. We were captivated by the marine bird colonies, and the show the sea lions performed while we snorkeled was breathtaking. Later in the day, while National Geographic Islander II navigated in the same waters that the famous Beagle did, we anchored at Cerro Dragon. Here we enjoyed a beautiful landscape of sand, lava, and ocean and we were astonished by the same view that Darwin and Captain Fitzroy observed and analyzed during their visit to the Galapagos. We completed our outing with a beautiful circumnavigation of the iconic symbol of San Cristobal, Kicker Rock.
Just Magical!! We explored an outstanding coralline sandy beach surrounded by surreal turquoise waters where the most charismatic animals of the Galapagos, sea lions, find their refuge. Kayaking, snorkeling, and walking are the activities of a morning filled with memorable moments which we will keep alive for a long time. A great variety of animal species call this island their home. One of these creatures is the majestic waved albatross, which uses this equatorial island for reproduction from April to December. A Zodiac ride in the afternoon brings us closer to the world of albatross, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, mammals, and reptiles. Just phenomenal.
Today our expedition started with a kayaking exploration of Post Office Bay, a unique location known for its historic post barrel, where mariners left letters for others to carry to their destination. Here, our guests took part in the remarkable exchange of correspondence, a testament to the enduring spirit of human connection across the vast expanse of the ocean. For the second part of the morning, we embarked on a snorkeling excursion at Champion Islet, a site teeming with marine life unparalleled in its diversity and splendor. As our guest submerged into the turquoise waters, they were captivated by a colorful array of fish, corals, and rocky reefs. Among them, the brilliant parrotfish and graceful sea turtles captivated everybody’s attention. Our day culminated with a trek through the rugged terrain of Punta Cormorant, where among the volcanic landscape and lush vegetation we photographed a Galapagos sea lion posing for us.
