We arrived to one of the most remote islands of the archipelago and quickly felt the difference of a more isolated area. Many birds flew in the sky, and some even rested on the deck of National Geographic Islander. It seemed they did not fear people.
Our first morning outing was an exploration of Darwin’s Bay Beach. This is an extraordinary place to enjoy wildlife at close range. The beach is a sanctuary for nesting seabirds. Red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, great frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, and yellow-crowned night herons share the space to raise their offspring. We had the opportunity to take close-up pictures of these species, as they do not feel threatened by us.
We went on our last snorkeling session where we were captivated by different species of fish, such as Moorish idols and scissortail Chromis. Sea lions appeared to enchant us again with their beautiful swimming performances. We stayed busy trying to keep up with their skills in the water. The snorkeling area was the place to be for kayakers and paddleboarders; they had a good view of Galapagos fur seals.
We enjoyed an Ecuadorian lunch onboard, including ceviche, coconut fish, suckling pig, and different local desserts. Everything was delicious, and the menu held the interest of our guests.
During the afternoon hike, we had the chance to find the short-eared owl on different areas of the lava. We even witnessed one of them feeding from afar. We sat on a platform to contemplate the different species of birds flying above us. This was certainly a special moment, and we felt thankful for the amazing days we experienced in this small paradise.
