This morning we landed on an olivine beach at Punta Pitt, which is located at the northeastern part of San Cristrobal and is also the closest point to the mainland. The temperature was 71 degrees Fahrenheit, much warmer than what we have experienced elsewhere. From the beginning we observed several lava lizards and a few mockingbirds, both species endemic to San Cristobal. Mockingbirds keep us entertained with their vocalizations as we walked along the trail.
As we climbed the path we observed the barren landscape and the erosion on the hills of one of the oldest islands of the archipelago. We saw a few blue-footed booby juveniles being fed by their parents and a few red-footed boobies nesting in trees.
In the afternoon we landed at Cerro Brujo, a tuff formation adjacent to a white sandy beach. Oystercatchers, marine iguanas, lava gulls, great blue herons, and playful sea lions were part of the reception committee. From the sandy beach we could contemplate the sunset with a spectacular background, Kicker Rock, a tuff formation with a very peculiar shape. This was the perfect way to finish our cruise.
