Chinese Hat and Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island, 4/4/2025, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
Today we explored the northcentral part of the archipelago, and we visited two amazing sites located around Santiago Island.
In the early morning, we visited Chinese Hat, a young crater islet surrounded by turquoise water where we kayaked and snorkeled in search of beautiful tropical fish and Galápagos penguins.
In the afternoon, we visited an area in front of Bartolome Island from where a famous geological formation can be seen, Pinnacle Rock.
At Sullivan Bay we had a close encounter with the Galápagos penguins who were posing for our cameras and displaying on the rocks by the beach. Afterwards we had an extraordinary hike on a vast lava field where the pahoehoe flows make an incredibly texturized landscape. On this hike we witnessed the very beginning of the establishment of life.
We ended the day with a visit to the nesting site of the Galapagos penguins.
Ramiro is Ecuadorian, born in the highlands and raised by the sea. Growing up in the Galapagos was for him an opportunity to learn from up close the importance of understanding and respecting all forms of life. He started his studies in biology and e...
Our expedition on board National Geographic Islander II took us to the captivating South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands. We were treated to an extraordinary day of wildlife encounters and breathtaking landscapes, leaving us with a deeper understanding of the island’s unique ecosystems.
Today we had an extraordinary opportunity to visit one of the most breathtaking islands in the Galápagos. Genovesa Island is a true sanctuary with more than 1.5 million seabirds. It is home to some of the world’s largest colonies of red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds. We began our morning by kayaking around this spectacular volcanic caldera. We were surrounded by flocks of seabirds flying above us in every direction. The geology, the towering cliffs, and the wild calls of the birds created an unforgettable atmosphere. Later, we disembarked at Darwin Bay, where we observed male frigatebirds in full courtship display. They inflated their bright red gular pouches and beat their wings dramatically to attract females during this peak breeding season. We encountered Nazca boobies, the largest of the booby species found in the Galápagos, as well as striking swallow-tailed gulls, considered the only nocturnal gull in the world. Galápagos sea lions rested on the beach, and we enjoyed a peaceful walk along the shore, taking countless photos and engaging in enriching conversations about the uniqueness of this ecosystem. Our morning concluded with an exciting snorkeling session, where we swam alongside colorful reef fish, rays, and even some reef sharks. In the afternoon, we landed at the iconic Prince Philip’s Steps, where we hiked just over a mile along the cliffside trail. The path led us through large seabird colonies, including red-billed tropicbirds and clouds of storm petrels fluttering around the rocky ledges. One of the highlights was spotting the elusive short-eared owl, the only owl species in the Galápagos. Unlike most owls, it is diurnal, meaning it hunts during the day. We ended the day by enjoying the breathtaking landscape and a stunning sunset from the cliffs.
South Plazas is a small island of the Galapagos archipelago, with vibrant vegetation, a big colony of Galapagos land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, and Galapagos sea lions along the coast. It’s awesome to walk through this rocky terrain on this sunny morning, while at the same time being surrounded by this spectacular wildlife. Afterward we returned to National Geographic Islander II , enjoyed a delicious breakfast, and then set out for kayaking with sea lions playing beside us. In the afternoon we reached our second destination of the day, Santa Fe Island, which is another stunning site with unique wildlife. Our first activity was snorkeling, where we were surrounded by different kinds of fish and some young, playful Galapagos sea lions. Later we went for a hike and looked for the Santa Fe land iguana, a species exclusive to this site. We found a few of them getting ready for the night, walking to their burrows where they sleep. We were mesmerized by the size and the yellow coloration of this precious reptile.
