Today we spent the day exploring Santa Cruz Island. We started our morning by learning more about how the first settlers lived before electricity was available on the islands, and we learned more about the coffee and sugarcane processes. This large island provides many different ecosystems, and the humid Scalesia forest is one of them. Walking around the pit craters in this endangered forest was such a unique experience, and we learned more about the endemic plants of the area. We also observed several different finch species, like the warbler finch. Afterwards, our exploration took us to Manzanillo Ranch, where we walked among giants! Giant tortoises are an iconic species in this archipelago, and we didn’t have to walk far to find them. They were everywhere! We finished our day by visiting the National Park’s giant tortoise breeding center. Afterwards, we were happy to return to our floating home and enjoy a delicious dinner in the company of our new friends.
4/3/2023
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National Geographic Islander II
Española Island
Today we arrived at Española Island. Located in the southeastern realm of the Galapagos, Española is the oldest island in the archipelago. We started very early in the morning with an amazing pre-breakfast kayak outing along one of the island’s cliffsides. We saw many seabirds nesting and resting on the rocks along the coast. After breakfast, some of our guests disembarked on a big coralline beach named Gardner Bay. We had the opportunity to walk among a breeding colony of dozens of sea lions. At the same time, deep-water snorkelers enjoyed the deep blue with its amazing marine wildlife at Gardner Islet. Later, some of our guests went for a remarkable second kayak outing. To end the morning, everybody enjoyed the stunningly soft white sand and the turquoise waters. Guests had a pleasurable time walking along with a group of very curious Hood mockingbirds. After a delicious lunch back on board, we enjoyed a presentation about Charles Darwin from naturalist Ramiro. In the afternoon, we headed to Punta Suarez. We found a group of jumping dolphins that blew our minds. Later, we observed marine iguanas on old lava boulders where they gather in large groups for warmth. We also spotted blue-footed boobies, Nazca booby nesting grounds, a Galapagos hawk, and various other birds. Every day in the Galapagos is an opportunity to rediscover the beauty of nature through unbelievable encounters. While visiting the oldest island of the Galapagos, today was no exception.