Bartholomew Island and Chinese Hat Island, 8/8/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Any morning in Bartholomew Island is bound to be amazing and today there was no exception. As far as we could see from the boat, there was something happening. There were Mobula rays leaping clear out of the water, playful dolphins, and whales. Total madness!
Almost on board, a sea lion decided to take possession of our Zodiacs, happily inspecting all of them until we had to reposition the ship for our next visit in the afternoon. After motoring for one hour, we reached Chinese Hat Island for an afternoon full of activities, landscapes, and wildlife.
Fernando was born in Guayaquil, mainland Ecuador. His first visit to Galapagos as a tourist when he was a teenager made up his mind regarding what to study at university. He moved to Galapagos a couple of years after completing his training as mari...
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Tuesday on Isabela Island began with a wet landing at Urbina Bay where guests ventured on a nature walk along gentle terrain shaped by dramatic geological uplift. The trail revealed fascinating coastal formations and offered close encounters with endemic wildlife, including our first encounter with Galapagos giant tortoises, land iguanas, penguins, and flightless cormorants. After the walk, guests had the option to swim or snorkel from the beach where the calm and clear waters provided a refreshing break before everyone returned to National Geographic Gemini. In the afternoon, we continued north toward Punta Vicente Roca. Guests gathered at the bow with the expedition leader to take in the striking volcanic landscape and learn more about the island’s natural history. The day’s exploration continued with a Zodiac ride along the coast of Ecuador Volcano, offering a closer look at the rugged shoreline and opportunities to spot wildlife, such as sea turtles, penguins, and Galapagos fur seals. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the ship crossed the equator, marking the moment with a pod of dolphins during sunset — a memorable finale to a day filled with discovery, connection with nature, and the wild beauty of the Galápagos.
Today, we spent a full day on Santa Cruz Island where we immersed ourselves in one of the most important and unique conservation stories in the Galápagos. Our morning began at the Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding Center where we witnessed the extraordinary efforts of Galapagos park rangers working to ensure the survival of these iconic reptiles. Inside the rearing pens, baby tortoises were freely exploring their surrounding areas while park rangers carefully measured the growth of the young tortoises, cleaned their enclosures, and explained the delicate process of repatriating these animals back into the wild once they reach a safe size. Just outside the enclosures, a large-billed flycatcher flew from branch to branch in the shade of a poison tree, adding a cheerful note to our visit. In the afternoon, we traveled to the highlands of Santa Cruz where we had the unforgettable opportunity to observe adult giant tortoises roaming freely in their natural habitat. One particularly impressive individual paused just a few feet in front of our group, offering a moment of silent connection. Seeing these majestic creatures in the wild, after witnessing their earliest stages of life this morning, brought the conservation message full circle in the most powerful way.
Today we had our first full day in the western region of the archipelago. In the morning, we enjoyed Tagus Cove, walking inland to get beautiful photos of the landscape, including the famous Darwin’s Lake. We also went kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling along the shoreline to see Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, and more. Our visit to Fernandina Island later in the afternoon provided sightings of colonies of marine iguanas on lava flows and sea lions on the sand. Without a doubt, it was one of the highlights of this trip!
