Our journey continued as we arrived at North Seymour Island, an uplifted volcanic island in the center of the Galapagos archipelago. North Seymour has an abundance of life with frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, and Galapagos land iguanas. Inland, frigatebirds displayed for potential mates. They showed off their impressive inflated gular sac while shaking their wings and making a guttural clicking noise. It was quite a show. Blue-footed boobies are starting nests right now, and one showed us the three eggs being incubated. Land iguanas foraged on fresh vegetation, indifferent to us as we passed. Upon returning to National Geographic Endeavour II, a feeding frenzy began as blue-footed boobies, Galapagos sharks, sardines, brown noddy terns, and Galapagos shearwaters took part in the feast. After an incredible morning, we started our afternoon on Rabida Island, a dark red island that shows off its volcanic past. A snorkel along the coast brought us in contact with Pacific green sea turtles, Galapagos sea lions, and an array of reef fish. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we took a short walk to a brackish pond to enjoy American flamingos on full display. What a great finish to our first full day in the archipelago.
2/17/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Floreana Island
The sun had barely risen when we anchored in Punta Cormorant, right next to the striking geological formation of Devil's Crown. Our early morning hike began with playful sea lions greeting us at the shore. This site is famous for its large brackish lagoon, home to many flamingos. We were lucky to spot a few, as they frequently move around the archipelago, and it’s never certain where they’ll be. The island’s landscape was transforming into a lush paradise, with rain bringing life to the dormant palo santo trees. The dry desert scenery was gradually being replaced by vibrant greenery. Punta Cormorant is also known for being a sea turtle nesting site, and we saw fresh tracks of turtles that had nested the night before. We snorkeled around Champion Islet, enjoying the vibrant marine life, including plenty of fish and sharks. The calm waters and excellent visibility made for an unforgettable experience. In the afternoon, we kayaked in a tranquil protected area surrounded by sea turtles and sea lions. Our next stop was the famous Post Office Barrel on Floreana Island, where we left postcards and searched for others to hand deliver back home. As the day ended, Floreana gifted us a stunning sunset to cap off our adventure.