Santa Fe and San Cristobal Islands, 2/20/2024, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
It is the last day of our expedition on National Geographic Islander II. In the morning we explored the prickly pear forest on this island and later, we swam in the bay where playful sea lions spent time snorkeling with us.
In the afternoon, our journey took us to Cerro Brujo, a coastal haven boasting a crescent-shaped bay with pristine white sands and turquoise waters. As we disembarked, we were greeted by playful sea lions basking on the beach and curious Sally Lightfoot crabs adorning the rocky shores.
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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Our day in the Galapagos began at Punta Pitt, where we made a wet landing on volcanic sand, greeted immediately by a baby sea lion and a white morph red-footed booby at the shore. We started our ascent up the hill, spotting numerous red-footed boobies along the way and even a blue-footed booby! The landscape was breathtaking, with vibrant red hues in the vegetation and layers of orange tuff stone creating a stunning backdrop. In the afternoon, we explored Cerro Brujo on the western side of San Cristobal Island. After landing on semi-volcanic sand, we strolled among large colonies of sea lions, leading us to a stretch of pure, powdery white sand. We joined our wellness specialist for a stretching session, then walked along the beautiful beach, marveling at the unique volcanic landscape around us. Before the sun set, we returned to National Geographic Islander II and our captain took us to Kicker Rock, an iconic eroded ash cone and a nesting site for many seabirds. With the rock glowing in the evening light, our guests raised a final toast to celebrate an unforgettable day in this extraordinary place.
Today we explored one of the oldest and most interesting islands in Galapagos, Española. This island has a high rate of endemic species, among them the largest bird in the archipelago, the waved albatross.
Today our expedition started with a kayaking exploration of Post Office Bay, a unique location that has a rich history dating back to the 18th century. It served as an unofficial mail drop for whalers, who would leave letters for passing ships to deliver. Today, it remains a popular visitor site, symbolizing early communication and connection among seafarers, while also highlighting the unique maritime history of the Galápagos Islands. For the second part of the morning, we embarked on a snorkeling expedition at Champion Islet, which boasts a rich diversity of fish fauna. Snorkelers can encounter colorful species such as parrotfish, surgeonfish, and snapper, along with the endemic Galápagos damselfish. Our day culminated with a trek through the rugged terrain of Punta Cormorant, renowned for its diverse ecosystems and vibrant wildlife. The area features unique vegetation and is a prime habitat for various bird species, notably flamingos and blue-footed boobies.
