This week’s expedition is coming to a close, and we have to maximize our time left in the Enchanted Islands. Today we visited San Cristóbal Island; at its northeastern tip, we find Punta Pitt, which is a cluster of very old tuff cones, now heavily eroded by rain, wind and wave action. The walls of the former cones still rise tall and majestic above sea level, and they are the home to various seabirds that find here suitable nesting spots and productive surrounding waters. The star species of the morning is the red-footed booby. There are five distinctive colonies located in the periphery of the archipelago, including Punta Pitt. They are pelagic feeders, foraging in a radius of sometimes over 100 miles from their colonies. In the afternoon, we visited Cerro Brujo with its stunning white-coralline beach. It was a last visit to the natural areas of this remote archipelago, an everlasting memory of this unique corner in our wonderful planet.
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.
