Early in the morning, we visited San Cristobal Island. It was a windy day, but disembarkation was easy at Punta Pitt, a nice greenish beach with particles of olivine that sparkled like little diamonds. What a fantastic landscape we had during the walk inside a volcano. Along the trail we founded blue-footed boobies, and eventually red-footed and Nazca boobies as well. Afterward, we had a nice breakfast followed by snorkeling on a beautiful morning. Next, we sailed south for two hours to get to Cerro Brujo, one of the most amazing beaches of Galapagos, with sand like soft flour that never gets hot. It is also home for many sea lions and birds. The end of the day also meant the end of this Galapagos escape as National Geographic Islander II circumnavigated Kicker’s Rock.
5/12/2025
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National Geographic Islander II
Española Island
Today’s expedition took us to one of the crown jewels of the Galápagos Islands, Española, renowned for its incredible biodiversity and striking landscapes. The day offered us a blend of relaxing encounters with marine life and dramatic displays of wildlife along one of the most iconic trails in the archipelago. Our morning began at Gardner Bay, a breathtaking stretch of white sand beach framed by turquoise waters and black lava outcrops. Upon landing, we were greeted by a colony of Galápagos sea lions lounging comfortably along the shoreline. Some curious individuals came close to inspect us as we walked along the beach. In the afternoon, we landed at Punta Suárez, where a starkly different environment awaited. The rocky coastline and dramatic cliffs provided a stunning backdrop for one of the most exciting wildlife hikes in the Galápagos. Our walk took us through nesting grounds of Nazca boobies. The highlight, however, was the waved albatross, endemic to Española and one of the most charismatic species in the archipelago. We were fortunate to observe their fascinating courtship displays—elegant and theatrical, with head bobbing, beak clacking, and sky-pointing rituals.
