North Seymour and Rabida Islands, 12/17/2024, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
These two islands are spectacular places with unique characteristics. North Seymour is a flat and small island full of wildlife, such as frigates that nest all year around, blue-footed boobies, seagulls, marine and land iguanas, and a big colony of sea lions. In contrast, Rabida is an older secondary volcano and well known for having the most beautiful red sand beach where sea lions rest. It also has a small brackish lagoon with flamingoes, pintails, and other migratory birds.
We had a wonderful experience exploring these two spots, by land and by sea - going for walks, snorkeling, Zodiac riding, and kayaking. Our tools of exploration were at the ready to facilitate our adventures.
Christian was born on the island of Isabela in the Galápagos archipelago. He grew up on a farm and had a magical childhood devoid of cars, electricity, telephones—just pure nature and playful sea lions along the beach. At the age of seven, he moved w...
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Today we visited the island of Santiago. In the morning, we explored Buccaneer Cove by kayak, snorkeling, and even by glass bottom boat. In the afternoon we visited Puerto Egas. The landscape was full of wildlife and amazing geological formations that offered great opportunities for photography, conversations, and creating wonderful memories with our dear guests.
Today, we visited one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Galapagos Islands. Roca Redonda Island is a paradise for seabirds. As the sun rose above the horizon, our guests were on deck watching the island come to life, with birds swarming around this tiny rock which is actually the tip of an active volcano that plunges over ten thousand feet to the seafloor. We continued navigating south, crossing the equator and celebrating with our guests onboard. Our journey then took us to Punta Vicente Roca on the southwest flank of Ecuador Volcano, just a few miles south of the equator. We explored by Zodiac and snorkeled with turtles, flightless cormorants, and Galapagos penguins—an unforgettable morning! In the afternoon, we repositioned National Geographic Islander II to Fernandina Island. Our visitor site, Punta Espinoza, is on the northeast side. We hiked across uneven, dark lava flows, seeing hundreds of marine iguanas basking on the shore while curious sea lion pups greeted us. Fernandina is the most recent island in the archipelago, and though it may look like a barren rock from a distance, its surrounding nutrient-rich ocean supports a thriving ecosystem.
Early this morning we disembarked on North Seymour Island, greeted by overcast skies and a pleasant temperature. As we ventured inland, we encountered numerous frigatebirds, some nesting atop trees and shrubs, while male frigatebirds displayed their vibrant red gular pouches in an impressive courtship ritual. The recent rainfall had transformed the landscape, rendering the paths slightly muddy and prompting the palo santo trees to sprout fresh green leaves after a prolonged dry spell. Continuing our exploration, we observed several land iguanas and lava lizards scurrying across our path, showcasing the island’s diverse reptilian life. In the afternoon, National Geographic Islander II navigated northwest to Rábida Island, easily identified by its distinctive reddish hue due to oxidation of iron-rich lava. Our guests had the opportunity to snorkel from the island’s red sand beach where the clear waters revealed a vibrant marine ecosystem. After snorkeling, we returned to shore to explore the area surrounding a saltwater lagoon located just behind the landing beach. To our delight, we spotted numerous flamingos, some were feeding, while others tended to their nests or cared for their chicks. As the sun set, we returned aboard, reflecting on a day filled with remarkable wildlife encounters and the stunning natural beauty of the Galápagos Islands.
