Espanola Island: Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez, 6/13/2022, National Geographic Islander
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander
Galápagos
In the morning our guests departed the ship very early to explore the rocky shores of Gardner Bay. After breakfast, some of our travelers left to snorkel in deep waters and some spent time on the beautiful Gardner Beach to swim, snorkel, and relax surrounded by crystal clear waters, pure white sand, and sea lions.
In the afternoon, National Geographic Islander repositioned to Punta Suarez for our hikes in search of wildlife. We offered a long hike to the Galapagos albatross “airport” and a short version of that walk for more stationary wildlife observation at a slower pace.
Socrates was raised on Santa Cruz Island located in the heart of Galapagos Archipelago. He had a childhood filled with swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing and volunteering in conservation projects, so it was natural for him to grow very passionate ...
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Today was our chance to explore the western realm of the archipelago. We woke up with the magnificent Roca Redonda as our landscape, a place full of wonder, with so many birds and a unique landscape. We celebrated crossing the equatorial line before we started our activities off the ship. Isabela and Fernandina have so much to offer and today they did not disappoint. We rode our Zodiacs and hiked to explore these marvelous areas. We had so much fun and saw even more than we expected. Our adventures finished with a delightful wine tasting event accompanied by a beautiful sunset. It was joyful to listen to the excitement among our guests as they shared their experiences of the day. Priceless.
We started our day early, setting out for Seymour Norte before breakfast. The island’s lush greenery was striking—a clear sign that the rainy season has arrived in Galápagos and with it, the seabird mating season. As soon as we landed, we were surrounded by numerous great and magnificent frigatebirds, some perched in the treetops while others soared overhead searching for food. Further inland, we encountered several land iguanas feasting on the fresh vegetation. Right beside them, blue-footed boobies captivated our guests with their presence. After breakfast, National Geographic Islander II navigated northwest toward Rábida Island. Following lunch, we enjoyed snorkeling off the island’s striking red beach. We spotted sea lions, colorful fish, octopuses, and even a few whitetip reef sharks. As we explored beyond the beach for our final outing, the sun broke through the rain creating a stunning rainbow. In the nearby lagoon, flamingos waded gracefully, feeding in synchronized movements—truly dancing in the rain. Just before sunset, we returned on board, tired but elated. This was an unforgettable day in this paradise called Galápagos.
Today our guests explored Santa Cruz Island. Santa Cruz Island is one of the most biologically diverse islands in the archipelago. It is home to the Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Together, these two institutions represent a hub for scientific study and conservation efforts that focus the attention on the restoration of the islands.
