Today is our last day in paradise, an adventure which seems unreal. We all bonded as one even though we are from different generations and even centuries; the Galápagos brings magic to our souls and minds. We traveled to Fernandina and San Cristobal islands – the youngest and one of the oldest in the archipelago – on an expedition, a journey of discovery through time.
San Cristobal Island is one of the oldest in the Galápagos. Today we land on a green olivine beach. The volcanic scenery that we observe during our intense hike is spectacular; the peaks of tuff high in the sky make this site very different from what we have already observed.
Punta Pitt also has impressive scenery from up above – here we can see the position of the sun and are able to tell the direction of the sea breeze. All our senses become aware as we listen to our surroundings and search for red-footed boobies.
Soon after, we enjoyed some time on the beach, where we played with fun sea lions and observed two males fighting over their territory.
Later we reposition to Kicker Rock, an impressive tuff formation standing massive out of the shoreline. We circumnavigate as the sun is setting, remembering this is the place where we just snorkeled with Galápagos sharks, turtles, fish and friends.
We are now together at the bow, celebrating life as a frigate bird flies very near above us, as if saying good-bye. Today is our last full day in the islands.
We made it to the Galapagos and it was not easy. There is a deep appreciation for the few children who actually make it to the islands; statistics say that out of the 7 billion humans in this world only a few make it to the Galapagos. In contrast, Hawaii gets 12 million visitors per year, Yellowstone Park 3 million, Machu Picchu 1 million visitors and finally, Galapagos Islands, only 204,000 per year, a fraction compared to other places. That is why I say, today we were honored to be part of their unforgettable experience, and we hope that one day they would have the will and 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; 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.
