Our first full day on San Cristobal Island was unforgettable. We explored Punta Pitt, where we had the rare chance to see both red and blue-footed boobies nesting along the rugged cliffs. Later, we walked along the stunning white sand beach of Cerro Brujo, surrounded by turquoise waters and dramatic lava formations. As the first island Darwin set foot on, San Cristobal offers a perfect blend of history, natural beauty, and abundant wildlife. The fresh breeze, lush green vegetation, and peaceful presence of sea lions and seabirds made the experience absolutely breathtaking.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 13 Apr 2025
San Cristobal Island, 4/13/2025, National Geographic Delfina
- Aboard the National Geographic Delfina
- Galápagos
Roberta Schiess, Naturalist
Born and raised in the Galápagos, Roberta Schiess Bahamonde’s grandparents were among the first permanent inhabitants of Santa Cruz Island, arriving from Switzerland in the 1940s. Her mother is also a naturalist guide in the Galápagos, so this is a p...
Read MoreShare Report
Galápagos by Catamaran: An Intimate Voyage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
6/18/2025
Read
National Geographic Delfina
Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
As the light increased, those of us on the top deck were exposed to an awe-inspiring frigatebird flight formation with the half-moon as backdrop. They were getting a free ride with our updraft, and they jostled continuously for the primo spot above our heads. Spending another full day in the western province of Galapagos was a delight. Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove left nothing out, with encounters of giant tortoises, land iguanas, Darwin finches galore, vistas, human history carved into the tuff stone, and even the normally elusive dark-billed cuckoo!
6/17/2025
Read
National Geographic Delfina
Isabela and Fernandina Islands
This morning found us navigating around the northern region of Isabela Island on our way to Punta Vicente Roca. As we arrived at the anchorage site, we lowered our pangas and went on a coastal exploration to look for wildlife. At Punta Vicente Roca we saw marine iguanas, fur seals, penguins, cormorants and green sea turtles. After a great panga ride, we continued looking for sea life and we were pleased to find a large pod of pilot whales, more than a hundred all together. As we arrived at Punta Espinoza, we finished lunch and then went for an early snorkeling adventure and found many sea turtles and marine iguanas feeding at the bottom. Later in the afternoon, we had a great walk on Punta Espinoza where we found large piles of marine iguanas and some Galapagos snakes.