Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove, Isabela Island, 3/25/2025, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today’s morning adventure took us to Urbina Bay on Isabela Island. The highlight was spotting land iguanas and giant tortoises in the wild for the first time. Guests were thrilled to observe these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. The lush landscape was filled with Darwin's finches.
In the afternoon, we hiked to a stunning viewpoint at Tagus Cove. The trail led us through dry, rugged terrain with glimpses of endemic plants. At the summit, the panoramic view was unforgettable.
Andrés grew up in Floreana, an island with 150 inhabitants in the Galápagos Archipelago. Living without internet, television or cellphones encourages him to become a creative observer and a nature lover. He spent most of his childhood interacting wit...
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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.
After breakfast, we set out for Urbina Bay, located on the western side of Isabela Island. Just a few meters from the shore, we encountered several giant tortoises resting in rainwater pools left by the downpour from the night before. The rainy season is truly a blessing for all terrestrial animals, and the tortoises are no exception, taking advantage of the fresh water and lush vegetation. In the afternoon, we navigated north toward Punta Vicente Roca. At 2:15 PM, we embarked on an unforgettable snorkeling experience along the island’s coastal cliffs. We had the incredible opportunity to swim alongside playful sea lions, Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants, and sea turtles. Our final excursion of the day was a panga ride around Ecuador Volcano. This outing turned into a unique adventure as an unexpected rain shower added a special touch to the experience. Our guests donned ponchos and embraced the moment, making the ride even more memorable as we explored this remote and stunning landscape. Just before 6:00 PM, we marked a significant milestone, crossing the Equator! We celebrated this special moment with a traditional flag-crossing ceremony, accompanied by lively music and a fun round of limbo.
Today we visited Santa Cruz Island, the home of 25,000 inhabitants that represent the largest human population of the Galapagos Islands. During the morning, our guests explored Puerto Ayora and learned everything about the work of the Charles Darwin Research Station. Later in the afternoon, we explored the highlands of the island where our guests enjoyed observing the Santa Cruz giant tortoise, Geochelone porteri, in their natural habitat.
