James Island, 11/27/2019, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today National Geographic Endeavour II visited one of the most spectacular islands in the archipelago. Santiago Island is one the islands that was visited by Charles Darwin and was possibly his favorite since he spent the longest amount of time here on his five-week-long visit to the Galapagos in 1835. Today we visited three different sites and enjoyed activities ranging from kayaking to snorkeling, starting before breakfast and continuing until sunset.
Socrates was raised on Santa Cruz Island located in the heart of Galapagos Archipelago. He had a childhood filled with swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing and volunteering in conservation projects, so it was natural for him to grow very passionate ...
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We arrived at the north of Santa Cruz Island, and we witnessed that there had been heavy rains in recent days, leaving this part of the island covered in green. It was like an artist’s palette, with all the shades of green captured in this amazing landscape.
After breakfast, we set out for Urbina Bay, located on the western side of Isabela Island. Just a few meters from the shore, we encountered several giant tortoises resting in rainwater pools left by the downpour from the night before. The rainy season is truly a blessing for all terrestrial animals, and the tortoises are no exception, taking advantage of the fresh water and lush vegetation. In the afternoon, we navigated north toward Punta Vicente Roca. At 2:15 PM, we embarked on an unforgettable snorkeling experience along the island’s coastal cliffs. We had the incredible opportunity to swim alongside playful sea lions, Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants, and sea turtles. Our final excursion of the day was a panga ride around Ecuador Volcano. This outing turned into a unique adventure as an unexpected rain shower added a special touch to the experience. Our guests donned ponchos and embraced the moment, making the ride even more memorable as we explored this remote and stunning landscape. Just before 6:00 PM, we marked a significant milestone, crossing the Equator! We celebrated this special moment with a traditional flag-crossing ceremony, accompanied by lively music and a fun round of limbo.
Today we visited Santa Cruz Island, the home of 25,000 inhabitants that represent the largest human population of the Galapagos Islands. During the morning, our guests explored Puerto Ayora and learned everything about the work of the Charles Darwin Research Station. Later in the afternoon, we explored the highlands of the island where our guests enjoyed observing the Santa Cruz giant tortoise, Geochelone porteri, in their natural habitat.
