Today was our last day in paradise, an adventure which seemed unreal. On this journey we all bonded as one. Even though we are from different generations and even centuries, today we were one, as the Galapagos brought magic to our souls and mind. Traveling and reaching from Fernandina to San Cristobal Island, the youngest and one of the oldest in the archipelago, on this expedition was a journey of discovery through time.
San Cristobal Island is one of the eldest in the Galapagos. Today we landed on a green olivine beach. The volcanic scenery that we observed during our intense hike was spectacular; the peaks of tuff high in the sky make this site very different from what we have already observed.
We started with a rough and interesting ocean under the blue sky. We took a Zodiac ride along the shores searching for wildlife. Today we were lucky to have found red-footed boobies mating. We had a wet landing and headed up the dried riverbed. Punta Pitt also had impressive scenery from up above—here we could feel the southeast trade winds keeping us cool and pleasantly comfortable for this walk. All our senses became aware as we listened to our surroundings as we searched for red-footed boobies on our walk by the cliffs.
Soon after, we came down toward the beach for some relaxing time under the intense equatorial sun. Some of us opted for snorkeling while others just lay down a towel on the ground, mesmerized by this wonderful week and a bit nostalgic on our last morning in paradise.
Later we repositioned to Kicker Rock, an impressive tuff formation standing massively out of the shoreline. We had just snorkeled with Galápagos hammerhead sharks, white-spotted eagle rays, turtles, fish, and other friends. Today we had a deeper appreciation about life.
We made it to the Galapagos and it was not easy. Statistics say that out of the seven billion humans in this world, only a few make it to the Galapagos. In contrast, Hawaii receives 12 million visitors annually, Yellowstone National Park sees three million, Machu Picchu gets one million, and finally, the Galapagos islands take in only 204,000 visitors per year. Just a fraction compared to other places. That is why I say that today we were honored to be part of our guests’ unforgettable experience and hope one day they will have the will and the power to make a positive change in this wonderful world of ours.
Our expedition is now over, life goes on, but we are now sure this place has changed many lives. This is a place which can never be fully described. We all came with different backgrounds, sharing this magic which can only exist in our hearts and minds forever.
Farewell amigos.
