We started our first hike in Punta Pitt, an old tuff cone with high cliffs. We have anchored at San Cristobal Island the last day of our expedition and it was the first island visited by Charles Darwin during the Voyage of the Beagle on September, 1835. The hike today led us to a dry plateau covered with patches of the purple Sesuvium portulacastrum, or Galapagos carpet weed. We found a colony of red footed boobies nesting. These boobies are the only ones among the 3 species found in Galapagos that nest in trees and bushes along the cliffs. Today we got to see some chicks and eggs. We also saw blue footed boobies nesting! Eggs and chicks were everywhere! Once we finished our beautiful yet uphill hike, it was time to enjoy the beach and the playful sea lions. Our guests had a great time swimming and taking pictures of them.
After lunch we sailed toward the beautiful Cerro Brujo. The water was calm and we found colourful shores as we disembarked on an orange sandy beach. We walked on the white sands that followed and took beautiful pictures of the sunset. Once back on board we enjoyed the circumnavigation of Leon Dormido with some drinks before travelling to our final destination, the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It is the capital of the province of Galapagos, also known as the “capital of Paradise”. After dinner our guests were able to enjoy the warm night in the outside decks, savoring the last moments of our voyage. We spent time in a place where humans and nature coexist in harmony, a true paradise.
