Our morning began at an ancient place known as Cerro Dragon, an incredible site where we can find the endemic Galapagos land iguanas. Unfortunately, due to alien species introduced in the 1970s, the population of these unique reptiles was decimated. However, the population has been recovered due to the successful captive breeding program that is run by the Galapagos National Park Service with the scientific advice of the Charles Darwin Research Station.
As soon as we landed, our explorers were captivated by this fascinating visitor site. Lava gulls, marine iguanas, and flamingos were sighted from the path that led us to the interior of the island. Due to the lack of rainfall, the palo santo and Galapagos cotton were deciduous; mockingbirds as well as Darwin’s finches were collecting nesting material for their mates. Once we reached the dryer area, we finally spotted the dragons of Galapagos—the land iguanas. Due to the intense humidity, these prehistoric creatures were very active and allowed us to get some closed up shots with our cameras. After so much fun on land, we returned to the National Geographic Endeavour II for a quick turnover, before heading out again to enjoy the underwater realm.
Guy Fawkes Islet was our destination for the later morning. Here we had the opportunity to go snorkeling. Snorkeling at this site is quite special. We submerged ourselves once again into the productive waters that surround the Galápagos Islands. A feature that makes the place unique is a steep underwater cliff that drops off to about 150 feet of depth. We saw countless yellow tail surgeonfish, king angels, sea lions and white-tipped reef sharks.
After lunch, we explored the shore of Eden Isle via kayaks and Zodiacs. After the activities, the National Geographic Endeavour II raised anchor to get underway. We spent a great evening sailing around Daphne Major. As the sun went down, we had wine tasting on deck and shared the experiences of the day with our fellow guests.
