Today is our last day of expedition, and there are mixed feelings as everyone is so happy, and at the same time nobody wants this expedition to end. We have had such an exciting week, and what better way to end it than by visiting the island on which Charles Darwin first arrived during his visit in the Galapagos, San Cristobal Island. It is one of the oldest islands in the archipelago and the political capital of the Galapagos province. One of the first things that attracted Darwin when he first landed on San Cristobal, or Chatham as he knew it, was its fascinating geology. This morning we were able to explore the geological landscapes that Darwin did and contemplate the wonderful landscape of Punta Pitt. It is interesting to note that most of Darwin´s geological rock specimens collected on San Cristobal came from this site, which Darwin knew as Finger Hill.
Along the trail, our main objective was, apart from enjoying the beautiful geological landscape, to find for the first time the colorful and curious red footed booby. We succeeded, as we spotted various red footed boobies flying and nesting close to the trail. Red footed boobies are the most pelagic of all boobies, specializing in catching flying fish on the northern waters of San Cristobal island. These birds only lay one egg and is the only one of the Galapagos boobies who have adapted to perch on trees. This particular ability allows red footed boobies to build their nests on trees. However, red footed boobies were not the only booby present in this area. We also spotted many blue footed boobies nesting as well as Nazca boobies flying. In fact, Punta Pitt is one of the few places in the Galapagos where it is possible to observe the three species of boobies living in a same area. The reason is that every species has their own ecological niche, so there is no competition for nesting areas or food. After the walk, everyone had a chance to enjoy a last snorkeling opportunity around the green sand beach of Punta Pitt. Here, sea lions gave a remarkable farewell, playing and swimming around our snorkelers.
Later in the afternoon, we visited one of the most scenic beaches in the Galapagos, Cerro Brujo. Here our guests had time to explore a long white sand beach with clear turquoise water surrounded by astonishing lava flows and volcanic cones. We left this beach joined by a spectacular sunset that made the perfect closing for a great week onboard the National Geographic Islander. Galapagos is a fountain of inspiration and all our guests have been replenished with it during a week full of unforgettable experiences, beauty, and deep connection with nature in our beloved national park.
