Floreana Island, 11/10/2024, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
We spent the day on Floreana Island, one of the central islands of the Galapagos. In the morning, we visited Post Office Bay followed by impressive snorkeling at Champion Islet.
In the afternoon, we visited Cormorant Point, a great place where we observed sea turtles and several species of seabirds, including blue-footed boobies.
Javier grew up on Santa Cruz island where his grandparents first arrived in the 1940´s. Veritable pioneers, his grandparents settled in the highlands where they found a place to raise their children.
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Today, we found ourselves in one of the most extraordinary places in the Galápagos, the youngest and most volcanically active region of the archipelago. We crossed the equator aboard National Geographic Islander II and celebrated this special moment as we ventured into the western realm of these enchanted islands. Throughout the day, we were rewarded with unforgettable encounters, including blue-footed boobies, Galápagos penguins, green sea turtles, flightless cormorants, and magnificent frigatebirds, all part of the unique wildlife found in this region. We had the chance to swim alongside these remarkable animals and take countless photographs. We were also thrilled to spot a pod of common dolphins gliding through the waves. In the afternoon, we visited Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island, the youngest of all the islands. We walked among hundreds of marine iguanas, observed Galápagos hawks, flightless cormorants, and playful sea lions. It was an inspiring and truly unforgettable day.
Today we had an exceptional day exploring two of the most iconic islands of the Galápagos. In the morning, we disembarked at Seymour Norte where we explored some muddy trails looking for wildlife. There was plenty to see, including many land iguanas, as well as frigatebirds, which became the highlight after seeing males with their red pouches inflated to attract the females. In the afternoon, we went for a stroll along the lagoon, and to our surprise, we saw a large group of flamingos gathered. Our guests were delighted with this unique opportunity to observe and photograph these magnificent birds in the wild. It was a truly wonderful day for everyone here in the Galápagos.
The first full day in the Galapagos Islands was mesmerizing, starting early in the morning with a colorful rainbow. There were lots of different activities on Santa Cruz Island, the most populated of the archipelago. Our first stop was at El Trapiche Ranch, a unique destination where we learned about the production of coffee, cocoa, and moonshine in an artisanal way. The owner of this ranch, Mr. Adriano, guided us through this magical place, talking about not only the production, but also the human history of the islands and how the first people who arrived in the Galapagos lived. Our second visit was the Gemelos, a striking geological formation composed of two large pit craters, formed by the collapse of volcanic lava chambers. This beautiful site was perfect for observing different species of Darwin’s finches. At noon, a delicious lunch was waiting for us at El Manzanillo Ranch, surrounded by the magnificent Galapagos giant tortoises. As soon as we finished lunch, we had a fantastic time walking beside this unique and huge reptile.
