We spent the whole day at Santiago Island. An early walk was offered at Espumilla Beach. It was a delight to find the top predator of the archipelago, the Galapagos hawk, feeding on Pacific green sea turtle hatchlings. We enjoyed the water activities at Buccaneer’s Cove. We saw huge schools of sardines and salemas as well as many colorful fish. Whitetip reef sharks swam underneath us as blue-footed boobies dove next to us. Kayaking in this place was spectacular with smooth waters and a breathtaking landscape. In the afternoon, we visited Puerto Egas. We took a hike along the coastal area, the only place where we can see Galapagos fur seals on land. All the animals were so close, and the feeling was overwhelming. The “Enchanted Islands” are a dream come true!
5/5/2025
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National Geographic Gemini
Punta Pitt and Cerro Brujo, San Cristobal Island
Located east of the Galapagos Archipelago, San Cristobal is a stunning island thanks to its geology. As it is one of the oldest, winds and waves have taken their toll, carving into sedimentary rocks, leaving beautiful formations and walls. We visited Punta Pitt in the morning, home to one of five colonies of red-footed boobies. They perch on trees and bushes, and their bright-red feet bring extra color to the vegetation. We had a chance to swim and snorkel off the olivine beach. There is nothing better than being accompanied on a swim by a couple of playful Galapagos sea lions. Captain Nathaly Alban repositioned our beautiful ship to Cerro Brujo by midday, and for a little while, we were followed by curious juvenile boobies. In the afternoon, weather conditions were perfect for us to explore the walls of the tuff cone that dominates this site. The beach here is one of the most beautiful in the islands, with its white, coralline sand and turquoise waters. Back on board, we admired a magnificent Galapagos sunset with some wine tasting as we navigated by the iconic Kicker Rock, celebrating the end of another day in this remote paradise.