Bartholomew and Sombrero Chino, 7/29/2021, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today we visited two islands in the center of the archipelago. On Bartholomew, we climbed a wooden staircase to the top of an old cinder cone for a chance to see the famous vista that captures many islands at once, in addition to Pinnacle Rock. In the afternoon, we navigated towards Sombrero Chino, where we had a great time snorkeling from Zodiacs and spotting wildlife. This is the home of a small colony of Galapagos penguins as well as Galapagos sea lions.
Gilda was born in Ambato, located in the very heart of the Ecuadorian Andes. Since she was a child, she loved animals, often rescuing street cats and dogs. Her parents always made sure there were nature books and plenty of Jacques Cousteau’s videos a...
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Our expedition took us to the youngest and one of the most remote islands in Galapagos. We began our journey at Punta Espinosa, Fernandina Island stepping onto a striking volcanic landscape shaped by recent volcanic eruptions. Among the first signs of life we encountered was a lava cacti with spiny golden stems standing in contrast against barren lava. It is one of the first plants to colonize the lava flows. As we followed the trail, a Galápagos sea lion greeted us, playfully interacting with the tide pools. Moments later, a group of marine iguanas emerged from the rocky shoreline, diving into the shallow waters in search of the precious algae that sustains them. Later in the afternoon, we embarked on a coastal exploration along Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island where the dramatic cliffs and rugged shoreline offered breathtaking views. As we navigated the waters, green Pacific sea turtles surfaced briefly, with their heads breaking the surface in slow and rhythmic movements. Nearby, a Galápagos penguin stood on the rocks while flightless cormorants spread their wings to dry—a fascinating display of evolution in action. The interplay of volcanic rock formations, rich marine life, and striking geological features made for a truly unforgettable experience.
Today we visited North Seymour. This island is home to unique iguanas and different species of marine birds, including the frigates and blue-footed boobies nesting in the area. Our guests enjoyed visiting the small, 1.7 square km uplifted landmass. We took an amazing hike in one of the visitor’s sites. The Galapagos National Park has put a lot of effort into controlling the number of introduced species here. In the afternoon, we went to Rabida Island, where we had our first snorkeling opportunity of the expedition. We enjoyed the presence of sea turtles, a large variety of colorful fish, and a group of playful Galapagos sea lions. After snorkeling, we went on a walk along the beach, where we encountered a group of American flamingos in a coastal brackish water lagoon. It was an amazing first full day spent exploring the Galapagos!
This morning, National Geographic Endeavour II anchored in Darwin Bay, one of the two calderas on Genovesa Island. We explored two different trails of the island: Darwin Bay and Prince Philip’s Steps. We experienced the rainy season this morning and still had a wonderful time. Genovesa Island is home of the largest colony of red-footed boobies in the archipelago, as well as other seabird species. After walking both trails, we snorkeled and kayaked along the cliffs of this large caldera.
