Sullivan Bay, Bartolome Island, 4/4/2025, National Geographic Gemini
Aboard the
National Geographic Gemini
Galápagos
Today we explored Sullivan Bay and Bartolome Island. In the morning, we visited a relatively new lava flow where we learned about the geology of the Galapagos during the early stages of these volcanic islands.
In the afternoon, we explored Bartolome Island where we had special moments spotting creatures, such as Galapagos penguins, sea lions, blue footed boobies, and a number of sea creatures during our snorkeling activities.
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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After breakfast, we boarded our kayaks and gently paddled the calm waters of Elizabeth Bay. As we glided through the mangrove channels, we were greeted by the sight of numerous green sea turtles swimming peacefully near us. We also spotted several juvenile blacktip reef sharks cruising through the shallow waters. The presence of golden rays added to the magical ambiance of the bay. At 2:00 p.m., we began our first afternoon outing with a snorkeling session along Punta Moreno. The underwater scenery was simply spectacular. We encountered more green sea turtles, and Galápagos sea lions added a playful element to the experience. The highlight for many was witnessing penguins swimming at remarkable speeds as they hunted small salemas. Later, we returned to shore to walk across a vast and striking lava field — a reminder of the islands’ volcanic origins. However, amid this seemingly barren landscape, we discovered true oases: brackish lagoons where several flamingos were wading gracefully through these pools, feeding on small crustaceans. As we neared the end of our walk, we had one last surprise — encounters with Galápagos penguins and the iconic flightless cormorants.
Today on board National Geographic Endeavour II we started very early, with a visit to Buccaneer Cove. Under the light of dawn our guests had a great stretching session conducted by our wellness specialist, Hilda; a perfect way to connect with nature. Taking advantage of perfect sea conditions, our day got better and better with an exciting Zodiac ride and kayaking. During the tour, our guests observed Nazca boobies and enjoyed a stunning landscape of volcanic lava with incredible colors. The day concluded with a visit to the black sand beach of Puerto Egas on Santiago Island, where our guests could relax and enjoy the sea alongside pelicans and the abundant marine life that Galapagos has to offer.
Isabela Island holds half of the land mass of the Galapagos Archipelago. Towering over the rest of the island chain with its massive shield volcanos, it is a diverse environment for numerous species. A morning visit to Urbina Bay shows us the unique and young geological formation of an uplifted area. A couple of square kilometers of intertidal zone was uplifted in the early 1950’s, in certain cases over four meters out of the ocean left high and dry. Vegetation has taken over the area since the uplift, with Galapagos giant tortoises and land iguanas roaming the area freely. We encountered over nine tortoises using our path for easy transportation. Yellow warblers, Galapagos mockingbirds, and Darwin’s finches provided an interesting soundscape. The afternoon brought us to Tagus Cove, with its historic graffiti written on the cliffs, some dating back to the early 1800’s. In the water or exploring along the coast, we encountered Galapagos penguins fishing among flightless cormorants, with the occasional plunge diving pelican. A heavy rain shower provided a cool, crisp feeling to the atmosphere as the sun painted the late afternoon sky among the clouds. It was another fascinating day exploring these incredible islands.
