North Seymour and Rabida Islands, 3/5/2023, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
On our expedition aboard National Geographic Islander II, we visited Floreana Island this morning. Our first stop was Post Office Bay. We kayaked along the canals of the bay and enjoyed amazing encounters with sea lions and marine iguanas. Then we went to drop off and pick up letters at the post office the barrel. After breakfast, we snorkeled in Champion Islet.
In the afternoon, we changed locations to Punta Cormorant, where we walked along a green sand beach. The sand gets its color from an abundance of olivine. We finished the day with an amazing sunset.
Charles was raised in the Galápagos Islands. He is the grandson of Rolf Wittmer, the first person documented to have been born on the island of Floreana after his parents, Margret and Heinz Wittmer, emigrated from Germany in 1932.
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Today, National Geographic Islander II arrived in the western realm of the Galápagos. Early in the morning, the ship circumnavigated Roca Redonda, a unique geological formation that hosts a large colony of seabirds due to the strong currents that bring nutrient-rich waters. Later, we changed locations to Punta Vicente Roca, one of the most spectacular visitor sites in the Galápagos Islands. It consists of the remains of an eroded volcano, creating dramatic cliffs and underwater caves. The area is also a great place for birdwatching, with species like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and flightless cormorants commonly seen. In the afternoon, we moved to Fernandina Island, famous for its dense colonies of marine iguanas, which bask in the sun along the lava rocks. This area showcases one of the most pristine environments in the Galápagos, as Fernandina is the youngest and most volcanically active island in the archipelago. We had an extraordinary day of exploration in the Galápagos Islands.
Our day began with perfect weather for an early morning walk on North Seymour Island, a fascinating landmass that emerged millions of years ago from the seafloor due to geological uplift. As we explored, we encountered numerous magnificent and great frigatebirds perched atop the palo santo trees. Along the trail, we also spotted several blue-footed boobies returning to the island preparing to nest. The landscape of North Seymour is beginning to change with the arrival of the rainy season, and lush green foliage is replacing the dry scenery. After our visit to North Seymour, we set sail westward toward Rabida Island. From a distance, we could see the island’s striking reddish hue, a result of iron oxidation and volcanic erosion. The afternoon provided the perfect conditions for snorkeling along the beach, where our guests had a thrilling experience swimming with playful sea lions, colorful fish and, of course, the blue-footed boobies that captivated everyone. At around 5:00 PM, we returned for a walk along the beach to visit a lagoon where flamingos nest, and we encountered several Galapagos sea lions resting along the shoreline. Just before sunset, we returned to National Geographic Islander II, cherishing the unforgettable memories of this incredible day in the Galapagos.
The day started with a talk on photography using one’s smart phone, quite fitting for the day we had ahead of us. We boarded buses in town and headed for the highlands, visiting first El Trapiche, a traditional farm where we learned to make brown raw sugar, moonshine, coffee, and chocolate. We had the chance of tasting everything, and everything was good. Afterwards, we headed to Los Gemelos, a pair of spectacular sinkholes surrounded by the last remains of the original Galapagos highlands forest. The plant coverage here is very different from the desertic vegetation we associate with Galapagos. Later after lunch, we visited Manzanillo, a private tortoise reserve. On our way, we had to literally slalom through a large number of tortoises that were on the road!
