Santiago Island: Buccaneer Cove, Egas Port, 3/22/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Santiago Island has many visitor sites, and for the last few decades the Galapagos National Park has been restoring the Islands. This afternoon we had the sensation of walking on a pristine island as a result of their efforts.
Walter was born in a very small town on the mainland of Ecuador. His first trip to the Galápagos was when he was 12 years old, visiting friends and aunt, who had moved to the islands. From the first moment he saw the Islands, he fell in love with the...
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Today we explored northern Santa Cruz at Cerro Dragón, which is the leeward side of the island. We started the day with a morning walk through the dry vegetation and we were lucky enough to encounter the endemic yellow Galapagos land iguanas that were exploring the area looking for food. To continue our day, we stopped by Borrero Bay, and we had the opportunity to learn about and observe the wonderful mangrove ecosystem. From its value as nurturing grounds to its economic value to the local community and tourism, we learned the importance of the mangroves.
The month of December is known as a transition time here in the Galapagos. We are moving away for the cool temperatures the Humboldt current brings and feeling the warm northeasterlies from Panama. In town, it warmed up early during our visit to the tortoise rearing center operated by the Galapagos National Park, so it was with relief by mid-morning to head up into the highlands by bus to spend time in the farmlands. Part of our group chose to visit a farm focused on using hydroponics and growing the fantastic greens we eat on board (as well as coffee and empanadas). The others visited a traditional farm which makes various products from sugarcane (as well as coffee and chocolate).
We arrived at Floreana Island early this morning, and we could hear everyone getting ready to go ashore at Punta Cormorant before breakfast. There were blue-footed boobies, flamingoes, and frigates feeding by the shore. We got to a white sandy beach, known as “flour beach”, and there we spotted several green sea turtles, a shark, and a newborn marine iguana. We snorkeled from Zodiacs and had a ride on our glass bottom boat along the coast of Champion Islet. During the afternoon we went to Post Office Bay to kayak and to leave postcards in the wooden barrel as a continuation of an ancient tradition.
