In the morning, we visited the island of North Seymour. This small island, centrally located, is home for a large number of seabirds. We were very lucky to see blue-footed boobies, great and magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans, and swallow-tailed gulls right on the trail. The birds’ tameness is amazing. It is an overwhelming feeling to see the birds and feel like we become part of nature. North Seymour Island was a highlight, as we found a colony of Galapagos sea lions coexisting in peace with Galapagos land iguanas. In the afternoon, we visited the red island of Rabida. The island is a great place for snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean with colorful fish and playful Galapagos sea lions. We finished the day with an easy stroll. We observed greater flamingos and enjoyed every minute with the Galapagos sea lions. What a wonderful start in the Enchanted Islands!
5/12/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Floreana Island
We started our day early at Punta Cormorant just as the sun came up. Nearby, the rocky outline of Devil’s Crown stood out in the distance. As we landed, sea lions were waiting on the beach, giving us a lively start to the morning. During our walk, we visited a large brackish lagoon that’s known for attracting flamingos. We were lucky to see a few of them, which can be rare depending on the season. The highlight of the day was snorkeling at Champion Islet. The water was calm and clear, and we saw a wide variety of marine life. Sea lions swam nearby, and we spotted plenty of colorful fish. In the afternoon, we went kayaking in a quiet, protected area, sharing the space with sea turtles and rays. We finished the day at Floreana Island’s Post Office Barrel where we joined the tradition of leaving and/or taking a postcard for hand delivery upon our return home. A beautiful sunset ended the day.