We woke up to intense humidity. It had rained during the night and when we landed, we could feel the air breathing with us. The fast walkers led the way up into the mountainside of Punta Pitt.
Punta Pitt is a dramatically eroded volcanic mountain, millions of years old. The low sunlight exaggerated the shadows thrown by the ravine. Up on the plateau the trail leveled out. Blue-footed boobies were nesting on the path. Apparently the food supply is such that they feel they can raise a generation before the supply runs out. Nests of two chicks and occasionally eggs, were sporadically seen during the morning.
Red-footed boobies were the objective and find them we did! There were even nests along the cliff that had fluffy, downy-feathered chicks. Only one per nest, though.
Off the landing beach, after the walk, practically everyone chose to go swimming. The breakers weren’t huge, but came in with force none the less. Young Explorers learned how to drive Zodiacs, later recognized by a certificate for their hard work over the entire week.
The rainy season came on in force throughout the afternoon, but it didn’t stop the intrepid. To Cerro Brujo they went and body-surfed the high breakers coming in with the rising tide.
It was the last day of a full expedition. As someone once said, “We came for a week, it went like a day, but felt like a year”. So many memories and experiences – how to keep them? Fortunately, that evening all our fellow guests had contributed photos to a slideshow we watched for the first time together in the lounge. A fabulous souvenir that can be watched again and again, shared with family and friends.
For a last bit of friendly competition after dinner, I set the stage for a “GEOBEE” competition among our guests…multiple choice questions, teams testing their geographic knowledge of Ecuador and the islands.
Many winners! But then again, I should have expected that from our travelers – they travel with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions!
