Punts Pitt and Cerro Brujo San Cristobal

We spent our last day in the Galapogos on the most easternmost island of the archipelago.  We started the morning with a zodiac ride along the shores to view all three spicies of boobies nesting together.. This was our introduction to the red footed boobie.  As sea lions playfully swam under our boats we travelled the shorelines entertained by the scenery and the nesting wild life.  We then made a dramatic wet landing on a beautiful sandy beach which we shared with numerous sea lions.  Snorkeling from the beach was th best we had had for days so that was a treat.

After lunch we  landed on Cerro Brujo where we hiked along a gorgeous beach with everything from white sand to black lava rock, pounding surf, birds and sea lions a plenty and stunning scenery.  What a wonderful place for our last shore excursion.

Back on board we sailed around Kicker Rock at sunset with a glass of champagne in hand sharing some wonderful memories of the past week.  After dinner we spent a long time on deck watching the sea lions at play around the ship as well as chasing the flying fish.  We were also treated to a lesson on the constellations by one of the officers who had a laser pointer that lit each star perfectly. What a perfect finish to a memorable trip.

Red footed boobie 

Satiated cliffs

Curious sea lion

Here I come

Last shore visit

No fear

One last iguana

Lava and surf

Not my type of swimming

Great memories

And the sun sets

Santiago Island

Another fantastic day!  We started the day with an early morning exciting wet landing on a beautiful beach for photography instructions from a professional. Really interesting to get some tips and wonderful to land on a pristine beach at 0630 on a hot sunny day.  This beach is one of the Galápagos Islands most important turtle nesting grounds.  A deep water snorkel in Bucaneer Bay revealed a couple of pockets of fish but once again visibility was not very good..

We spent an absolutely wonderful afternoon on the beach at Puento Egas.  After sharing the beach with an abundance of sea lions for beautiful views we went on an incredible hike where we were treated to incredible land formations, beautiful vegetation, a great variety of endemic birds, coulourful Sally light foot crabs, fur seals, iguanas, and many other wonders. We spent an amazing time watching a mother sea lion with her fairly new baby emerge from the ocean and travel along the beach.  We both have permanent grins!

Early morning mist on the beach

Ghost crab

Getting breakfast

Got it

Eyeing us up

Baby nursing

Beautiful formations

Mom and baby

Santa Cruz

Today was a very different day as we experienced the human aspect of the Galapogos. We started our day with a visit to Puerto Ayora which is the economic center of the islands. Here we visited the Charles Darwin Station. Which is where scientists gather information for the conservation of the islands unique bio systems.  It is here that one of the most significant and successful programs took place being that of the giant tortoise breeding.  After breeding these animals are all released into the wild and their numbers are no longer in danger as they are no longer taken for their meat.  This was a really interesting visit and in the evening one of the scientists came on board to further discuss the programs.

We then headed up Into the highlands where we stopped at a family run sugar mill which is run today the same way it was forty years ago.  Their secondary product was actual moonshine.  We were given a sample and it certainly had a kick to it.

After a lunch at a local restaurant we hiked through the highlands through the heart of the giant tortoise migratory route to search for these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.  It was incredible to find these creatures in their own home and observe them up close.  Definitely a highlight.

In the evening some local musicians and dancers came on board to entertain us. Was fun to get some local flavor.

Tortoises being bred and released 

Expressive faces. Looks like he lost his teeth

Sugar production

Moonshine tasting 

Tortoise in the wild

Playing shy

Long necks

Beautiful sunsets

Urbana Bay and Tagus Cove on Isabella Island

Isabella is the largest of the islands in the archipelago making up over half of the total surface area.  It was created by the fusion of six enormous shield volcanoes and has a seahorse shape.  We started he day with a hike around an area of great geological interest as in in 1954 one and one half square kilometers were uplifted almost instantaneously by as much as 15 feet leaving the marine creatures high and dry and one can still find evidence of this today finding dried barnacles and such well in land.  We encountered several coulourful land iguanas which are much bigger than the marine iguanas and one large land tortoise waiting in the woods.

A deep water snorkeling trip after lunch was good for the exercise but disappointing otherwise as visibility was poor and sightings were few for the effort as the seas were quite rough.

A hike to the top rim of Darwin Lake provided some panoramic views of volcanic flows and tuff cones.  This was a strenuous hike up but the views were well worth it.

Something must be said about the zodiac landings.  Most tend to be what are called wet landings and as most areas we have been have a fair bit of swell these must be timed closely and once the zodiac backs to shore people have to unload quickly.  There have been several that have landed in the water but I am happy to say that to this point it has not been us.  Even getting back on the ship has to be carefully timed as the ship rolls and the landing platform can change position by several feet. Thank goodness for great crew.

Rocky shores

Yellow finch

Land iguana

Darwin Lake

Great expanses of lava

Grandma and Grandpa

Punts Vincente Roca Isabela Island

We started our visit here with a deep water snorkel along the cliffs. The visibility was not good and the best part was actually looking at the cliffs though having a Galapogos penguin swim in front of us and seeing two sea turtles did make it a worthwhile trip. I could have done without the jellyfish sting but the application of vinegar certainly helped.  Returning from snorkeling we went for a zodiac ride along the base of the cliffs where we saw marine turtles, boobies ,penguins ,pelicans, cormorants,iguanas and fur seals which are only found in his part of the world and are very small.  In the evening the ship sIled over the equator while we had a wine tasting and cocktail party on the back deck complete with pirates.

Penguin under water

Penguin with iguanas 

Masked boobie

Sea turtle

Fur sea lions

Interesting geology 

Crossing the "equator "

Sunrise 

Fernandinho

Fernandinho Island is an imposing volcano rising to nearly 5550 feet that is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and it is also the world's largest completely pristine island. It's flanks are surrounded with fresh lava flow most still black and lifeless.  We took a most amazing walk around the shoreline much of it on slabs of ropy lava. The area we walked was literally inhabited with hundreds of marine iguanas basking in the sun many piled on top each other. Small lava lizards scurried amongst them and often perched atop their heads.  Sea lions played along the shore and birds and crabs were plentiful. A huge sea turtle proved entertainment for all. 

Sea lion rolling in the sand

Well camouflaged on the rocks

Thought this one looked like a statue 

Assortment of creatures 

Just being friendly 

Cacti growing on the lava

Giant sea turtle

Rabida

This island reopened to tourism after successful irradication of goats and destructive Norwegian rats which had come from the ships.  We started our visit here with a wonderful deep water snorkel trip along the rocky shoreline. The fish were plentiful and of many coulourful varieties and visibility was good.  With provided shorty wetsuits the hour passed quickly.  After a quick change we took a lovely hike on the island which provided some beautiful views. In the evening one of the National Geographic photographers gave a presentation on composition which was really interesting.

The big fish

Coulourful fish

Feeding

Exploring

Courting

Interesting topography 

Gorges in the volcanic material

Red sand beach