Our first full day in the Galápagos Islands was unforgettable. At dawn, we visited Rábida Island, where red sand and brackish lagoons welcomed us. American flamingos stood gracefully in the shallows, while sea lions lounged along the rusty-red beach. As we strolled, we spotted mockingbirds and Darwin’s finches skipping through the scrub.
After breakfast, we had our first snorkeling experience, and it was magical. The water was crystal clear, revealing a vibrant underwater world filled with marine life in a calm, sheltered bay.
In the afternoon, we sailed to Santiago Island, once visited by Charles Darwin during his voyage on HMS Beagle. There, we observed shorebirds, land iguanas, and Galápagos fur sea lions, a distinct species from earlier in the day.
At sunset, mobula rays soared briefly above the horizon, sea lions surged through the waves, and blue-footed boobies dive-bombed from above in a thrilling feeding frenzy. It was a perfect end to the day.
