This morning after a hearty breakfast we boarded Zodiacs to explore one of the most isolated, yet inhabited islands in the world, Pitcairn Island. Residents’ today range from 40 to 50, and when we arrived they explained to us the urgent need to attract more people to widen the possibilities of preserving the settlement that was founded by the Bounty mutineers in the late 18th century.

With somewhat treacherous sea conditions today we had to make a landing on the western side of the island using a yet unfinished new harbour construction. Our excellent Zodiac drivers navigated the large swells with ease and got us ashore safely (albeit a little wetter then when we departed).

Little did we know our adventure had only just begun!

With packed lunches in hand we made our way up the long winding dirt road to the highest point on the island. We were rewarded for our effort with spectacular views at Gannet Ridge of the entire island and we could quickly see why the sailors of the Bounty decided to call this island home centuries ago.

We explored the island’s square and administrative centre and from there visited some of the emblematic sites along a neat path that took us to see some of the relics of the Bounty. Among them, the graveyard was a very interesting place with the highlight being the grave of the last mutineer and patriarch of Pitcairn, John Adams, one of the landmarks of Pitcairn.

Many of us took other trails that allowed us to observe some of the unique local birds or simply sit under a shady tree and enjoy the gentle sound of the landscape charged with the reminiscences of a rich and sometimes tragic past.

As we descended back towards our landing site we wished we had more time to share and learn more about the locals’ unique history. On our arrival back to the ship we were greeted by the hotel team with delicious cocktails on the sun deck. As the captain circumnavigated the island one last time and with the sun slowly setting into the horizon we sipped on our cocktails and swapped stories about our magical adventures on Pitcairn Island.