At sunrise we disembarked in Espumilla Beach, a dark sandy beach where several tracks of female Pacific green turtles were evident. Unfortunately, since the tide was very high, we were not able to spot the turtles as they crawled towards the ocean. Our walk took us through a mature black mangrove forest, and further inland through an incense tree forest. The unique scenery mesmerized our guests, and we were fortunate enough to spot three Galapagos hawks, one of the highlights of this site.
Once we were back onboard, a delicious breakfast was provided and we got ready for the afternoon’s activities, which included snorkeling, kayaking and glass bottom boat rides. However, as the afternoon progressed, the sea became rougher and large oceanic waves were coming from the north. These conditions made kayaking the only possible option.
The beauty of our itinerary lies in its flexibility, and we were determined to find a site to satisfy our snorkelers’ appetite for discovery. After lunch, we landed in Puerto Egas, where our enthusiastic snorkelers were able to explore the waters, and some of our younger guests had the opportunity to take a lesson on boat driving, as part of their training as Junior Naturalists.
After our aquatic activites, we offered a hike that took us along the shoreline, where the wildlife sightings were abundant. California sea lions, marine iguanas, ruddy turnstones, semi-palmated plovers, American oystercatchers, lava herons, Sally Lightfoot crabs and Galapagos fur seals were spotted. It was a lovely walk in lavish sunshine, perfect for photography. We returned through a volcanic ash path inland, surrounded by ground finches, mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and lava lizards. After this full afternoon of activities, we returned to the National Geographic Endeavour to enjoy refreshments and a brief lecture before a fantastic dinner. Another great day in paradise comes to an end.
