San Cristobal is the administrative capital of the Galapagos Islands. The island has a human population of around 8,000. People live in different regions, from the coast to the transitional forests to the evergreen highlands with farms and cattle ranches. This prosperous island’s economy is based on tourism and agriculture.
We started our day by anchoring off Punta Pitt on the north side of San Cristobal Island. Here, we spent the morning exploring the hills and nesting sites of red-footed boobies. This region is geologically interesting and full of contrasts. Old and eroded mountains show an amazing stratification produced by the volcanic eruptions in the early stages of formation.
We had the opportunity to explore the trail that leads to the hills and a colony of red-footed boobies. Some of us explored the shore and cliff formations, spotting frigatebirds, Nazca boobies, and tropicbirds, just to name a few! We also had the opportunity to explore the snorkeling site, and we enjoyed swimming with sea lions and different types of fish. It was an amazing morning!
In the afternoon, we navigated towards the southwestern side until we reached Cerro Brujo. We anchored there and spent the afternoon exploring the white sandy beach that is home to Galapagos sea lions and marine iguanas. This is a magical place due to the landscape and the turquoise waters surrounding the coast. We returned to the ship at sunset to explore an iconic rock called Leon Dormido off the coast of San Cristobal. We navigated around the rock, birdwatching and enjoying the sunset with snacks and a glass of wine in hand! I think this is the best way to end an expedition in this remote archipelago.
Cheers for the Galapagos.