Santiago Island, 3/13/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
We had an amazing day on this beautiful island, from the morning walk in Espumilla with its tranquility, to the water activities at Buccaneer Bay exposing us to the wonders of the underwater world in this paradise.
The afternoon excursions took place at Puerto Egas with its distinctive landscape. There is plenty of wildlife among the different ecosystems that this area offers us to explore. Many memories were made with our fellow travelers!
Paola was born in the major Ecuadorian port city of Guayaquil, raised near the ocean and rivers. Since childhood she felt a deep connection with nature, which led her to settle in the Galapagos Archipelago in 1998, on the central island of Santa Cruz...
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We took a good look at a few giant tortoises in Urbina Bay, Isabela Island, but we all wanted a bit more giant tortoise information. These gentle giants are one of the most charismatic of the Galapagos characters. Where to start? At the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center managed by the Galapagos National Park Directorate in Puerto Ayora. Here, we saw them in all shapes and sizes, from babies a few months old to venerable reptiles older than all of us! Lindblad Expeditions supports local initiatives aimed at potentially diminishing the introduction of new invasive species. Granja Integral Ochoa is a place that provides this beneficial support. The hydroponic system is highly efficient and generates fresh vegetables without having to import them from mainland Ecuador. And the quality is so high we serve them to our guests and crew on an almost daily basis. Plus, the Ochoa family makes you feel at home with their warmth, freshly brewed coffee, and scrumptious empanadas. The day wasn’t over yet. Next, we went to Manzanillo Ranch for a meal and more interactions with Santa Cruz giant tortoises. Lunch was fabulous and the tortoises plentiful. It was another wonderful day in paradise!
It was a wonderful day on Santiago Island. The fun activities we had planned for the entire day kept us busy as we learned about the unique ecosystems of this magnificent archipelago. We explored the island and its surroundings by kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking. There was so much to discover. Who would think that in such a small area we could find so much diversity? That is definitely the magic of the Galapagos Islands at its best.
Today we explored the central part of Isabela Island, surrounded by active volcanoes. We visited Urbina Bay on the slopes of Alcedo Volcano during the morning and in the afternoon, the beautiful bay of Tagus Cove below Darwin Volcano. They are both very interesting places on the island, marked by the amazing productivity in this part of the ocean, which becomes a very important source of food for the marine life we find here.