Today, guests enjoyed observing countless sea turtles while kayaking at Gardner Bay on Española Island. After breakfast, some of us went snorkeling, and we found sea lions, turtles, and plenty of colorful fish. Others opted for a relaxed morning stroll on Gardner Beach, one of the most spectacular beaches on the islands. Lunch was delicious, as always. After a well-deserved nap, our guests put on their hiking shoes and boarded the Zodiac to explore the jewel of the crown: Punta Suarez. We walked along this riverbed-like trail. Sea lions and their newborns were one of the main attractions. We got to see our first waved albatross, a species that only nests on this tiny island of the archipelago. Our afternoon was full of wildlife and happiness, and it was a very emotional experience for most.
5/6/2025
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National Geographic Islander II
North Seymour and Rabida Islands
At 6:30 in the morning, some guests joined us for an expedition on North Seymour Island, which is slowly losing its green color due to the beginning of the dry season. It is a perfect time of year to see blue-footed booby couples starting to reproduce with the typical courtship displays and a good number of male frigatebirds with their red gular sack inflated. We encountered a good number of healthy land iguanas since they still have a lot of food, thanks to the previous wet season. While navigating to Rabida Island, bottlenose dolphins escorted National Geographic Islander II for at least 45 minutes, and guests had an excellent time watching them. In the afternoon, we snorkeled from the beach with colorful fish and young, playful sea lions who put on a great show. At the end of the day some guests took a walk on the red colored sand and watched American flamingos behind the dune at a saltwater lagoon. Others went kayaking along the coast full of land and sea birds.