Today is our last day in paradise, on this adventure which seems unreal. We all bonded as one even though we are from different places and generations, as the Galapagos brings magic to our souls and mind. This week, we travelled from Fernandina to San Cristobal islands, the youngest and one of the oldest in the archipelago, on a journey of discovery through time.
San Cristobal Island is one of the oldest in the Galapagos. Today some of us opted for a fun Zodiac ride, searching for red-footed boobies, and soon after we landed on a green olivine beach for a 1.5 mile walk. On the way, we encountered blue-footed boobies nesting and a little chick, nicknamed “fluffy” by one of our younger explorers. Finally, we went to the cliffs’ edge, where red-footed boobies were seen nesting along with a few chicks. The volcanic scenery that we observed during our intense hike was spectacular; the peaks of tuff high in the sky make this site very different from what we have already witnessed. Afterwards, we headed back to the beach to have fun swimming and playing with a small colony of sea lions—our ever-present friends. Some of us took family-pictures as a farewell to this wonderful week.
Later, we repositioned to Kicker Rock, an impressive tuff formation standing massive out of the shoreline, what an impressive place. Once we reached our site, we deployed our Zodiacs for our last activity, which was snorkeling. Back onboard, we then circumnavigated Kicker Rock as the sun was setting, remembering that this is the place where we just snorkeled with Galápagos sharks, turtles, fish and friends.
We are now together at the bow celebrating life—today is our last full day in the islands.
We made it to the Galapagos and it was not easy. There is a deep appreciation of all who take the time to visit the islands, especially to the children. Statistics state that out of the 7 billion humans in this world, only a small number make it to the Galapagos; in contrast, Hawaii gets 12 million visitors per year, Yellowstone Park: 3 million, Machu Picchu: 1 million, and finally, Galapagos islands, with only 204,000 visitors per year—a fraction compared to other places. This is why we are so honored to be part of their unforgettable experience, and we hope that one day they will have the will and power to make a positive change in this wonderful world of ours.
Our expedition is now over; life goes on, but we are now sure this place has changed many lives. This place can never be fully described. We all came together, from different backgrounds, to share this magic which will exist in our hearts and minds forever.
Farewell amigos.
