After lunch we sailed towards Rabida Island. The landscapes of the island are visually stunning. It's the top of an old volcanic cone bathered in Crimson. The rocks and sand are hued brilliant red and sit amid coves of clear blue waters. After a wet landing we walked on a rocky and steep trail for about one mile.
Rabida has a salt water lagoon, where there used to be
flamingos, but now the lagoon is occupied by sea lions and the flamingoes have dissapeard. we also saw Darwin's finches, Lava Lizards, Galapagos Hawks, Ducks,
White-cheeked Pintail, Sea Lions, and Brown Pelicans.
Rabida Island has also been know as Jervis Island named in honor of the18th century British admiral John Jervis. In Ecuador it is official known as Isla Rabida. It bears the name of the convent of Rabida where Columbus left his son during his voyage to the Americas. Rabida Island has an area of 4.9 square kilometres (1.9 square miles) and a maximum altitude of 367 metres (1,204 feet). Located south of Santiago, Rabida is
one of the most volcanically varied islands in the chain. Geologically
consisting of eroded hills and lava emitted from spatter cones that have
resulted in islands striking colours. White-Cheeked Pintail Ducks live in a salt-water lagoon close to the beach. On the cliffs Blue Footed and Nazca booby birds build their nests. Marine Iguanas and Sea Lions are often seen resting in the shade of the caves nearby. Behind the beach is the salt brush home where the Brown Pelicans make their nests.
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