Today is our last day in paradise, an adventure which seems dreamlike; we all bonded as one even though we are from different places. The Galápagos brings magic to our souls and minds. From Fernandina to San Cristobal islands, the youngest and one of the oldest in the archipelago, this expedition has taken us on a journey of discovery through time.
San Cristobal Island is one of the oldest in the Galapagos. Today we opted for a fun Zodiac-ride searching for red-footed boobies, and soon after, we landed on a green olivine beach for a 1.5 mile walk. The volcanic scenery that we observed during our intense hike was spectacular; the peaks of tuff high in the sky make this site very different from what we have already witnessed this week. Later on, we went back to the beach to enjoy the opportunity to go swimming and to play with a small colony of sea lions, our ever-present friends. Many of us took family photos, as a farewell to this wonderful week.
Later, we repositioned to Kicker Rock, an impressive tuff formation standing massive out of the shoreline. While navigating prior to lunch, we spotted dolphins, and shortly after lunch we spotted a whale—what an impressive place. Once we reached our site, we deployed our Zodiacs for our last snorkeling activity. Back onboard, we then circumnavigated Kicker Rock as the sun was setting, remembering this is the place where we just snorkeled with Galápagos sharks, hammerheads, eagle rays, turtles, fish and friends.
We are now together at the bow celebrating life and the incredible experiences of this week. We made it to the Galapagos and it was not easy. There is a deep appreciation for our visitors, especially the children, who make the journey to see the islands. Statistics say that out the 7 billion humans in this world only a few make it to the Galapagos. In contrast, Hawaii gets 12 million visitors annually. Yellowstone Park, 3 million. Machu Picchu, 1 million visitors. And finally, Galapagos Islands get 205,000 visitors per year—clearly a fraction compared to other places. This is why I say, today we are honored to be part of their unforgettable experience, and we hope that one day they would have the will and power to make a positive change in this wonderful world of ours.
Our expedition is now over. Life goes on, but we are now sure this place has changed many lives; a place which can never be fully described. We all came with different backgrounds and yet now we are one, sharing this magic which can only exist in our hearts and minds forever.
Farewell amigos.
