 |
| Last but not least...the red footed booby |
Our last full day in the Galápagos. Bittersweet as I didn’t want the experience to end, but I was also glad to finally retire my sunscreen, which had basically become a second skin.
A rough overnight crossing took us east to San Cristóbal Island, the oldest in the Galápagos archipelago. Our morning destination: Punta Pitt, one of the few places where you can spot all three species of boobies (blue-footed, Nazca, and red-footed) living in relative harmony. They manage this peaceful coexistence thanks to their choice of fishing grounds. The blue-footed stay close to shore, the Nazca hunt farther out, and the red-footed venture furthest to sea. The different depths and distances are also said to influence their foot colour, nature’s way of colour-coding its best fishermen.
The hike up Punta Pitt’s dusty trail was rewarded with stunning views and plenty of bird action. The red-footed boobies were the stars of the show, perched awkwardly in shrubs like overgrown Christmas ornaments. Afterward, a swim in the clear turquoise water, where the presence of sea lions, sea turtles and marine iguanas felt almost routine. When sea lions are your new normal, you know you’ve been spoiled.
The afternoon took us to Cerro Brujo, a long stretch of sugar-white sand where the sea lions reigned supreme once again. These salty sunbathers may be smelly, but they’ve perfected the art of the nap — a life skill I fully aspire to master. It was a simple, unhurried stop - an invitation to just be and savour the quiet. There were no information sessions nor wildlife to tick off. Some strolled the length of the beach, others swam or lay in the sun alongside their whiskered companions, while a few lingered in easy conversation with the naturalists.
As evening fell, we sailed around Kicker Rock (León Dormido) — a jagged volcanic formation that rises dramatically from the sea, glowing gold in the setting sun. Cocktails in hand, we toasted to the adventure of a lifetime. The farewell dinner was followed by a heartwarming presentation: a compilation of guest photos set to music, curated by the ship’s photographer and sprinkled with his own stunning shots. It was the perfect recap, equal parts laughter, nostalgia, and awe.
I’d grown used to the rhythm of expedition life, the days marked not by clocks but by cheerful PA announcements: “Good morning, it’s 0600. Breakfast is ready in the dining room.” Or, “In fifteen minutes, we’ll begin our snorkelling session.” The idea of wearing a watch again felt almost absurd.
It will be sad to say goodbye to the Galápagos, a place where sea lions nap like they own the place, boobies show off their style, and iguanas look like they’ve seen it all before. Our week with the National Geographic Lindblad team exceeded every expectation - close encounters, wild wonders, and more “wow” moments than I can count.
Day 15: Boobies spotted, sea lions envied, sunscreen retired. A perfect farewell to paradise.
 |
| Hike up the plateau |
 |
| For this view |
 |
| This looked a huge succulent tree |
 |
| The booby we came to see |
 |
| Beautifully coloured heads too |
 |
| The eastern most point of the archipelago |
 |
| San Cristobal mockingbird |
 |
| Baby frigate bird |
 |
| Lots of napping sea lion photos coming up...scroll by if not interested |
 |
| I want to nap like that too |
 |
| Or like this |
 |
| Sleeping (sea) lions |
 |
| We can nap hugging too |
 |
| Sunset at Kicker Rock |
No comments:
Post a Comment