San Cristobal Island
San Cristobal is one of the very old islands of the Galapagos group. Places like Punta Pitt (made out of tuff or volcanic ash) are quite common. The beach at Punta Pitt is made out of olivine, incredibly soft green sand, eroded particles of the hardest crystals and minerals that make lava flow. The meeting of the hot boiling lava with the cold temperature of the ocean produced steam that had miniature particles of ash within it. Those particles eventually compacted to make layers and layers of material that would eventually erode and make the sand of the nearby beaches. As we walked up throughout the canyon we realized how these magnificent formations had formed as a result of one volcanic event.
At the end of the trail, where the ice plant turns red, a very small colony of Red footed boobies surprised us. The chicks had already grown up considerably, just a couple of adults showed their colorful red feet around so our groups could photograph them. Mid-morning snorkel with beautiful crystal clear waters was also interesting, schools of tropical fish were everywhere around us.
We visited Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock in the afternoon; it’s a place that has become the signature of this island, very well known as one of the best snorkel and scuba diving places of the archipelago. As we got into the water, a school of Galapagos sharks joined us for in the very last snorkel of the week. Sea turtles, Sea lions, Spotted Eagle Rays and different species of Galapagos reef fish kept us company as we got around these spectacular lava formations that come out of the water just in the middle of the ocean.
We have had an incredible week on board the National Geographic Endeavour, cruising around the living laboratory of evolution this week has been one of our dreams. Tomorrow we go home, having witnessed why we humans need to keep this place the way it is. We have come to understand that the processes of life can go on without alteration and Galapagos is one of the examples where conservation works and is possible. The enchanted archipelago is one of the last paradises on earth and all future generations have the right to see it too.
