South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands, 12/26/2024, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
The degree of endemism in Galapagos is very impressive, and every day we have the opportunity to meet a new species that lives in this part of the world. Today we met an iguana that lives only on this tiny island, making our guests’ experience even more unique.
This archipelago brings wonder to all who visit, from the first moment one sets foot on land to the very last.
Walter was born in a very small town on the mainland of Ecuador. His first trip to the Galápagos was when he was 12 years old, visiting friends and aunt, who had moved to the islands. From the first moment he saw the Islands, he fell in love with the...
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Today is Christmas, and we had the opportunity to celebrate it in the land of the giant tortoises, one of the most iconic creatures that you can find in this enchanted archipelago. In the morning, we visited the breeding center located in Puerto Ayora to learn about all the efforts to restore their dynasty. We saw the saddleback tortoises from different islands and many species of Darwin finches. Later we went by bus to visit the lava tunnels, astonishing volcanic formations where you can walk underground. Then we visited a local family of farmers to learn about a coffee-coco bean plantation and their methods for processing these crops. We enjoyed lunch in a very charming place surrounded by tons of these ancient giant tortoises. Afterward, we walked around and marveled at their presence as they roamed their natural habitat. We finished our amazing day on board National Geographic Islander II with a very special Christmas dinner accompanied by local musicians.
What a fantastic way to spend Christmas Eve, by exploring the enchanted Galapagos Archipelago. Our guests arrived early in the morning to enjoy an invigorating walk along the trail of Punta Pitt, a magical place where you can see the three types of boobies found in Galapagos, red, blue, and Nazca booby. The scenery was astonishing and the weather perfect, which made it a great morning. On the beach were two adorable baby sea lions, and the swimming and snorkeling were very refreshing. In the afternoon we moved to Cerro Brujo, a white sandy beach which is home to colonies of sea lions and seabirds. We had a great time together enjoying this special location. Finally, we circumnavigated Leon Dormido to observe the wildlife and experience how quickly the sun goes down at the equator. What a fabulous journey!
