Santiago Island, 3/13/2025, National Geographic Delfina
Aboard the
National Geographic Delfina
Galápagos
Today we visited the island of Santiago. In the morning, we explored the coastline of Puerto Egas and also spent some time on the beach observing the friendly creatures resting on the rocks.
In the afternoon, we explored Buccaneer Cove by kayak, snorkeling, and Zodiac riding. The western side of Santiago offered remarkable moments observing wildlife and great moments for photography.
Javier grew up on Santa Cruz island where his grandparents first arrived in the 1940´s. Veritable pioneers, his grandparents settled in the highlands where they found a place to raise their children.
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Today we arrived at Santa Cruz Island, the vibrant heart of the Galápagos archipelago. With its lush highlands, bustling town of Puerto Ayora, and blend of natural beauty and conservation efforts, Santa Cruz offers a unique window into both the human and wild sides of island life. As we walked among the rolling pastures and forest groves, we encountered many ancient, slow-moving giant tortoises. Some were grazing quietly in the grass, others resting in muddy pools. Their presence was humbling — living relics from another time, some over a century old.
National Geographic Delfina left the western realm of the Galápagos Islands, and today we visited Santiago Island. This is a historic place, as Darwin camped here for several days. We started the day with an early natural history walk at a place called Puerto Egas. We saw marine iguanas, fur sea lions, a young sea lion playing with a pufferfish, and more. After that, we enjoyed a beautiful moment relaxing in the warm water at the beach. In the afternoon, we changed location to Buccaneer Cove, where we enjoyed more water activities, such as snorkeling and panga rides along the shores of the bay. As the sun began to set over the calm waters of the cove, we reflected on another unforgettable day in this extraordinary archipelago, where nature continues to astonish at every turn.
Today’s expedition was definetly a dolphin-y day! Our morning began at Urbina Bay, where we stepped onto a rugged shoreline that rose dramatically from the sea during an uplift event in 1954. We had an amazing morning watching tortoises and iguanas. As we navigated towards Tagus Cove, we spotted bottlenose dolphins cutting through the waves with effortless grace. Dolphins play an important ecological role in marine environments. As apex predators, they help regulate fish populations and indicate the health of the ocean. Their presence today was not only a visual treat but a reassuring sign of thriving marine life around Isabela Island.
