Northwestern Santa Cruz Island, Venice Islet and Cerro Dragon
Continuing with our expedition in the Galápagos Islands we arrived to Cerro Dragon, a very remote place located on the northwestern coast of Santa Cruz. In the morning we went on a Zodiac ride to visit Venecia, which is a group of rocks and islets close to the coast with very beautiful flora and fauna; this place resembles Venecia in Italy with its waterways. Some of our guests went to explore the interior of these water canals where we encountered big schools of golden rays and spotted eagle rays; the sea birds were hunting, and a blue-footed booby dove six feet from our Zodiac.
Some others decided to go on a coastal exploration by kayak following the same route as us. They were totally amazed, surrounded by mangrove forests and the great diversity of species. They saw white tips reef sharks and sea turtles.
Later in the morning we did some aquatic activities. The first ones leaving the ship went to a nice white sandy beach for a swim and a leisurely morning, while the rest of us went deep water snorkeling to Guy Fawkes Rocks. This is an eroded tuff cone and the conditions of this place were very good. The temperature in the water was 77 Fahrenheit and the current took us along a huge underwater wall full of marine invertebrates. The highlights here were the tropical fish, white tipped reef sharks and the landscape of the area.
In the afternoon we started the activities by sending the second round of kayakers to Venecia. They had the same chance to experience the wonders of these water canals as in the morning. Shortly afterwards, some of us landed on Cerro Dragon. Our objective here was to go on the search for the Dragons of the Galápagos Islands: the land iguanas. As we were hiking, we passed along a brackish water lagoon. These waters provide food to several species of birds. We sighted some Wilson’s phalaropes, black necked stilts, semi palmated plovers and whimbrels.
When we were half-way, we spotted the tail tracks of an adult land iguana. We started to follow trace and we found a big colorful male land iguana feeding on pads of cactus. On the way back we found four more iguanas, our major objective achieved and accomplished. We went back on board just in time to see the sun set, which let us know that this day had come to an end.
Continuing with our expedition in the Galápagos Islands we arrived to Cerro Dragon, a very remote place located on the northwestern coast of Santa Cruz. In the morning we went on a Zodiac ride to visit Venecia, which is a group of rocks and islets close to the coast with very beautiful flora and fauna; this place resembles Venecia in Italy with its waterways. Some of our guests went to explore the interior of these water canals where we encountered big schools of golden rays and spotted eagle rays; the sea birds were hunting, and a blue-footed booby dove six feet from our Zodiac.
Some others decided to go on a coastal exploration by kayak following the same route as us. They were totally amazed, surrounded by mangrove forests and the great diversity of species. They saw white tips reef sharks and sea turtles.
Later in the morning we did some aquatic activities. The first ones leaving the ship went to a nice white sandy beach for a swim and a leisurely morning, while the rest of us went deep water snorkeling to Guy Fawkes Rocks. This is an eroded tuff cone and the conditions of this place were very good. The temperature in the water was 77 Fahrenheit and the current took us along a huge underwater wall full of marine invertebrates. The highlights here were the tropical fish, white tipped reef sharks and the landscape of the area.
In the afternoon we started the activities by sending the second round of kayakers to Venecia. They had the same chance to experience the wonders of these water canals as in the morning. Shortly afterwards, some of us landed on Cerro Dragon. Our objective here was to go on the search for the Dragons of the Galápagos Islands: the land iguanas. As we were hiking, we passed along a brackish water lagoon. These waters provide food to several species of birds. We sighted some Wilson’s phalaropes, black necked stilts, semi palmated plovers and whimbrels.
When we were half-way, we spotted the tail tracks of an adult land iguana. We started to follow trace and we found a big colorful male land iguana feeding on pads of cactus. On the way back we found four more iguanas, our major objective achieved and accomplished. We went back on board just in time to see the sun set, which let us know that this day had come to an end.
