Santa Cruz Island, 2/1/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today we visited Santa Cruz Island, the second largest of the four inhabited islands in the Galapagos Archipelago. It has the largest human population, estimated at 25,000 people. Our guests had the opportunity to explore and learn all about the Charles Darwin Research Station.
In the afternoon, we left the lowlands to explore higher elevations in order for guests to see one of the most iconic species of the Galapagos Islands in the wild. Geochelone porteri, Santa Cruz Island’s endemic species of giant tortoise, roam freely and we admired these magnificent reptiles in their natural habitat.
Omar arrived at the Galapagos with his family when he just a year old. His father was a Naturalist in the islands and would take him exploring both on land and in the water, aboard the ships he was working on. At an early age, he learned all about th...
Enter travel details to receive reports from a single expedition
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Send Daily Expedition Reports to friends and family
*By clicking the submit button, I authorize Lindblad Expeditions to email me; however, I am able to unsubscribe at any time. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.
Please note: All Daily Expedition Reports (DERs) are posted Monday-Friday,
during normal business hours. DERs are written onboard the ship only and do
not apply to land-based portions of expeditions.
Today’s expedition took us to two of the most visually stunning sites in the Galápagos, Bartolome Island and Chinese Hat, with each island offering a fascinating view into the archipelago’s volcanic past and unique wildlife. We began the morning exploring Bartolome Island, a landscape dominated by rugged lava fields, spatter cones, and the iconic Pinnacle Rock. The hike to the island’s summit rewarded us with panoramic views of the surrounding islands, showcasing the beauty of this young volcanic terrain. Along the trail, spatter cones, formed by past eruptions, stood as a testament to the island’s fiery origins with their reddish coloration contrasting against the black lava flows. Below, Pinnacle Rock rose dramatically from the sea, a striking geological feature shaped by time, wind, and waves. In the afternoon, we navigated to Chinese Hat where we were fortunate to witness an intimate moment in Galápagos wildlife, the courtship ritual of Galápagos penguins. These charismatic birds engaged in elegant mating behavior. Nearby, a sea lion mother was comfortably resting upon the rugged lava flow. From volcanic landscapes to rare wildlife encounters, today’s journey through Bartolome and Chinese Hat was a reminder of the incredible diversity and geological wonders of the Galápagos Archipelago.
Dawn in Santa Cruz greeted us with the gentle sound of the ocean and the promise of a day filled with natural wonders. We explored the vital conservation efforts at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center where these majestic creatures remind us of the importance of preserving biodiversity. In the afternoon, our expedition took us to the heart of the island, El Manzanillo Ranch, located in the farming zone of Santa Cruz, where giant tortoises roam freely in their natural habitat. With each step the crunch of leaves beneath our boots immersed us in a primitive and fascinating world. We then explored the impressive volcanic sinkholes of Los Gemelos, located in the highlands, surrounded by the mystical Scalesia cloud forest.
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.
