The sound of sea lions on the beach warmly welcomed us to this magical place called Punta Pitt. It is located on San Cristobal Island, which is 5 million years old and the oldest island in the Galápagos. Here, the effects of millions of years of erosion by wind and breaking waves are clearly visible.
After a wet landing, we sought a good clearing between the colony of playful sea lions to get our feet dry and start today’s exploration. We ascended along a very rocky trail covered by endemic vegetation, where finches and warblers fed on seeds and insects. The San Cristobal mockingbird is unique to this island, one of the four Galápagos species collected by Charles Darwin. Observing us with curiosity, some finches came quite close, fascinating the birdwatchers among us. When we reached the highest point of the peak, we enjoyed a breathtaking view. Against the turquoise blue ocean, many red-footed boobies and frigates flew by. Farther behind us were the sesuvium shrubs that turn deep red and purple in the dry season, creating a beautiful contrast with the brown ash and black lava. Strong swells splashed against the rocks sending sprays of water and foam into the air. While several adult red-footed boobies preened, a juvenile sat in a nest, probably waiting for its parents to return from the sea with food. A very strong wind brought drizzle to the hills. The scenery was astonishing and perfect.
We spotted several lava lizards on the trail back to the beach, where we saw sea lions rolling around on the sand and in the water. Some of our guests joined them in the water to cool off. Back onboard, we motored for about four hours to Kicker Rock, a small but very impressive formation in the ocean. Isolated from the main San Cristobal landmass, its cliffs are a refuge for sea birds and its perpendicular walls underwater are preferred by sharks and rays.
At 3:30 pm, it was time to snorkel. The highlight of this outing was the chance to see sharks. Some of our guests had never seen a shark right in front of their eyes. I know the feeling of the first encounter. It is a mixture of awareness, a little fear, and the need to see, explore, and experience new things. In other words: adrenaline and adventure. As expected, we saw Galápagos sharks and hammerheads in addition to a few marine turtles, rays, and multicolored fish as well as benthic life found on the walls.
After snorkeling, we returned to the ship to change clothes and get ready to circumnavigate Kicker Rock. The sunsets here are spectacular, and today’s was no exception. We had farewell cocktails in the main lounge. We celebrated all the beautiful days we spent in this unique place. One by one, our guests shared the highlights of their trip. Happy faces were everywhere as we all promised to spread the word back home about how important it is to preserve this paradise known as Galápagos for future generations.
