South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands, 6/27/2024, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
South Plaza has an incredible number of animals given its small size. Colonies of sea lions and swallow-tailed gulls welcomed us. Large land iguanas and small lava lizards share habitats with marine iguanas here. The hues of the portulaca, a ground-growing succulent, are just gorgeous. Prickly pear cacti grow like trees.
In the afternoon, Santa Fe was no less interesting. In a clear bay with a shallow bottom, we enjoyed water activities. We snorkeled and took tours in the glass-bottom Zodiac session around the turquoise water to observe fish, rays, turtles, and sharks. Later, we took a walk to see land iguanas and sea lions in a colony.
Patricio, better known as Pato amongst his friends, was born in the Galápagos Islands. His family moved to the islands from the mainland and settled on the island of Santa Cruz over thirty-five years ago. Pato had an enchanted childhood in the island...
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We were already anchored inside Darwin Bay when the sun rose. Right away, a group of kayakers and paddleboarders left the stern for one of the most serene paddles possible: the flat water along the base of the inside cliffs. We observed red-footed boobies, frigates, red-billed tropicbirds, and swallow-tailed gulls…everyone was up and moving for the business of courtship and searching for food and/or nest sites. Genovesa is an extraordinary island with the largest red-footed booby colony on the planet. The island is home to an almost equal number of great frigatebirds, never mind all the other birds. Both the morning and afternoon were one-of-a-kind experiences that will never be forgotten by all who visited.
Today has been an incredible day in Galapagos, full of adventures and amazing natural wonders. In the morning, we started our day with an early kayak outing around Sombrero Chino Island. Despite the morning breeze, the water was calm, allowing us to glide effortlessly and enjoy the unique landscape of this small hat-shaped island. After kayaking, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast on board the ship, recharging our energy for our next activity, snorkeling. Diving into the crystal-clear waters around the island was an unforgettable experience. We saw reef sharks, stingrays, and, most excitingly, the charming Galapagos penguins, swimming with their characteristic clumsy and funny style. In the afternoon, we sailed to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island. This site is known for its impressive lava landscape, the result of a volcanic eruption that occurred in 1897. We walked along the lava trail, observing the fascinating geological formations and the unique patterns created by the solidification of the lava. The terrain seemed like it was from another planet, with irregular surfaces and dark colors contrasting with the blue of the ocean and the green of the nearby vegetation. It was a wonderful and visually striking afternoon, perfectly complementing the active morning we had. Without a doubt, today has been a day to remember, full of experiences that highlight the beauty and diversity of the Galapagos Islands.
