Today we woke up for an early pre-breakfast walk uphill to the top of Bartolome, a satellite islet of Santiago Island. This relatively new island is a good place to appreciate different geological formations such as tuff, spatter cones and basaltic flows. It was a pleasure for me to share my knowledge of geological formation of these islands with our local people. The presence of pioneer plants such as Tiquilia nesiotica and lava cactus makes Bartolome a good place to understand how life started in Galapagos after the first plants stablished on newly formed islands. We also had the chance to explore the underwater world of this place. Having fishermen from the community was an amazing experience as they started finding and pointing species of commercial interest, such as spiny lobsters and sea cucumbers. In the afternoon, we explored the island of Rabida, where one of the highlights were the flamingoes that we found in a lagoon, and sea lions resting at the beach during a beautiful sunset. We ended our day sharing “canelazos,” one of the main traditional drinks of Ecuador.
11/17/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
North Seymour and Rábida Islands
In the morning, we visited North Seymour Island where we enjoyed an unforgettable wildlife encounter. During our walk, we observed numerous great and magnificent frigatebirds nesting in the trees and shrubs, while blue-footed boobies nested on the ground. Along the trail, land iguanas roamed freely while feeding on cacti, completely unbothered by our presence and allowing our guests to observe them up close—a truly memorable experience. In the afternoon, we arrived at Rábida Island. From a distance, the island’s striking red color was visible, a result of the iron in the lava oxidized by the salty water. At Rábida, we offered snorkeling from the beach. Playful sea lions swam close to us, almost inviting us to join their games, and in deeper waters, colorful fish captivated our guests. After snorkeling, we returned on board and later headed back to the beach at 5 PM. Just a few steps from the landing site, we encountered many flamingos walking gracefully near us in a lagoon that has been their habitat for years. It was fascinating to watch them feed on small crustaceans while listening to their distinctive calls. Just before sunset, we returned to National Geographic Endeavour II feeling a little tired but thrilled after experiencing such a magnificent day in the Galápagos Islands.
