The National Geographic Islander drops anchor, it’s early morning, and is the last full day. Perhaps some members of the group might be tired, but as the last day, there’s not a chance to miss one minute today.
Almost everyone came ashore to visit Pitt Point, the northeastern most site of San Cristobal. Due to its location facing open seas, this place has a small colony of red footed boobies. They eat far out in the seas, and Punta Pitt fits this purpose perfectly, but at the same time it’s very dry.
It’s a good reason not to miss this walk: the red footed boobies. After a customary wet landing on a mineral beach that looks like gold and after getting into walking shoes, the hike began with a climb. A bit steep, through a creek, almost 300 feet.
Once on top, the walk became easy. This place is dry, the plants that grow here are tough, only they can be here, and they add touches of red to this jagged landscape.
Unexpectedly along the way, marine iguanas were making holes to lay their eggs far from the coast. There is no other way. Finally towards the end of the trail, some red footed boobies were sitting on their nest, but one stood up and we could see those red feet underneath.
It was so hot today, most of us went in the water after the walk, and a male sea lion decided to be part of the group, so much fun!
The afternoon came and the ship moved farther south, to Kicker Rock, our last snorkel around this tuff cone with such a beautiful shape, that gave origin to its name in Spanish, “leon dormido,” the lion is asleep.
Here we just snorkel, our last one. Once again almost everyone got in the very deep water. Three Zodiacs full of guides and guests; we jumped in the water.
A few minutes later a group of at least six very big spotted eagle rays showed up and stayed with us for the rest of the snorkel. This rock goes straight down underwater, with walls covered with all kinds of life forms, foreign to us: invertebrates with many colors and shapes, hiding in crevices small and large, fish, some big schools. Towards the end there were also many sharks, black tip and the best Hammerhead sharks, fading in the water shades – awesome!
Last but not least, after having a shower, we all met on the sky deck to go around Kicker Rock for a great sunset.
