San Cristobal: Cerro Brujo, Kicker Rock and Punta Pitt

Our first day and a half in the Galapagos are spent circumnaviting San Cristobal Island.  The country is still under a curfew when we arrive Sunday afternoon, so instead of going to the Interpretive Center, we head off for a cruise around Kicker Rock.  This monolith (duolith?) is even more impressive lit from behind with the romantic hues of the setting sun.  

The next morning, we are off to Cerro Brujo which boasts one of the best white sand beaches in the Galapagos.  This beach is home to sally lightfoot crabs, sea lions, a few marine iguanas and sea turtles.  We stroll the expansive beach, with some of the lightest and softest sand I have ever encountered.  

In the afternoon, we take one of our harder hikes of the trip, up to Punta Pitt.  Punta Pitt is a major nesting site for blue-flooted and red-footed boobies. There are only two islands in the Galapagos that are home to red-footed boobies: Genovesa and San Cristobal.  While its blue-footed cousin is better known, it is also fairly ubiquitous through the archipelago.  Red-footed boobies are the only one of the three species that have prehensile feet, thereby being able to stand on tree branches.  If you see a booby in a tree, it's a red-footed variety.  

Today's highlight was seeing a blue-footed booby chick, estimated at 3 weeks old, with its mother.  Unfortunately, I forgot my big camera back on the Theory, but was able to get off a few decent shots with my iPhone.  Note to self: ALWAYS bring both cameras.