Punta Pitt & Leon Dormido
We started our morning by landing on an olivine beach that manages to permanently accommodate many sea lions; most of them bachelors protruding like rocks out of the glimmering sand. With the sun out the entire beach shines due to the green crystals forming these sands.
The landing offers totally different shapes from any other tuff stone we have seen along the week…a much older cone with scars of water erosion and time. These cones, some of the oldest formations of the archipelago, shaped like gigantic crumbled paper bags, are the closest point to the South American mainland. The walk up to a deep valley takes place along water carved, and rather steep trails. From the top, a flat path leads us to the red-footed booby’s nests, while walking near high cliffs offering magnificent views of Punta Pitt, its bay and surroundings.
At the end of the trail we arrived to the most colorful landscape of the site, where the red and lemon green plants contrast beautifully with the brown and black volcanic substrate, the deep blue seas and baby blue skies. Seabirds soar over this dry, ocean-beaten land. Our two species of frigates and the three species of boobies use these areas for shelter. Endemic species are always observed near the trail: Chatham mockingbirds, fast moving San Cristobal lava lizards; as well as the large seeded Opuntia cacti, exclusive to the southern islands of the group; as well as some bushes of Scalesia surviving on the vertical cliffs. We had a couple of glimpses of a peregrine falcon flying by, always aware of us like many other rare visitors. Arriving back at the beach is always great, swimming and playing with sea lions in the water is even better. Once back on board we raised anchor and we headed to our next destination.
In the afternoon, the deep water snorkeling at Kicker Rock topped every other snorkeling we had during this week. A strong current took us on a wild ride, where using the fins was not necessary, through the shallow channel crossing the heart of this tuff stone cone. We floated over feeding schools of reef fish of different colors, sizes and shapes; over sea turtles getting their carapaces cleaned by barber fishes; and over dozens and dozens of small Galápagos sharks that curiously surrounded us. Today we were granted a gift; we experienced one of the most magical sites of the Galápagos Islands on a magical day.
