The mission of the Charles Darwin Foundation and its Research Station is to provide knowledge and assistance through scientific research and complementary action to ensure the conservation of the environment and biodiversity in the Galápagos Archipelago.
On Lindblad Expeditions’ Galapagos Islands trips, children can watch extraordinary-looking birds, sea mammals, insects, and reptiles in their natural habitat.
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After two spectacular days in the Asmat region of West Papua, it was time to head northwest to our next destination. With light winds and moody skies, it was a gorgeous day at sea. We started with a rainbow making an appearance off the bow for over an hour and ended with a dark and dramatic sky. In between, we not only had informative presentations and great meals, but excellent bow watching. Seabirds and flying fish were relatively abundant for this region. The certain highlight of the day was a big pod of spinner dolphins. This group of well over one hundred dolphins was energetic and at times, even spinning. They appeared to be chasing schools of flying fish, but towards the end of the encounter, some of them made their way to the bow and went for a ride. It was another great day onboard National Geographic Orion ! Photo caption and credit: Spinner dolphins. Photo by Mike Greenfelder
The day’s events started earlier than expected with a brilliant showing of the aurora borealis at around midnight. The lights danced above the bow as people captured the show on camera or just drank in the moment. The real adventure began early as National Geographic Quest docked at Bartlett Cove, the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. Guests disembarked for some quick early morning hikes, and we took aboard a national park service ranger to join us for the day to provide information and interpretation about the park. Glacier Bay was in high form today as the blue skies and sunlight poured over calm seas and abundant wildlife. Coastal mountain goats, humpback whales, brown bears, sea otters and tufted puffins were just a portion of the animals spotted from the bow of the ship. South Marble Island provided views of sea otters and pelagic birds of all kinds. The crowning destination of the day was Margarie Glacier, one of the many rivers of ice flowing into the great Pleistocene basin.
We had the opportunity to visit two wonderful islands today. Our exploration of Bartolome in the morning was spectacular. Its volcanic landscapes, crystalline waters in many shades of blue, golden beaches, and black rocky coast make it a very picturesque place with which to fall in love. For our afternoon activities, we anchored by Chinese Hat. Penguins were the main attraction of our Zodiac ride, but sharks made our snorkeling session a remarkable experience to remember.
Today was a rare day. In true expedition fashion, we explored all aspects of the Asmat regency of West Papua. Our day began at sunrise with a bird watching Zodiac ride upriver. The sound of the forest waking up and coming to life is something no picture can capture. After breakfast, we explored the town of Agats, a bustling place for this region. It is an elevated town, as it lies on the tidal coastline of the delta. We had the opportunity to meet local people, shop the many stalls, and visit the Asmat Museum of Culture and Progress. In the afternoon, we journeyed via Zodiac back upriver to the village of Uwus which is tucked in the forest. The experience was a sensory overload. A fleet of war canoes greeted us, their unified chants echoing in the tree canopy. On land, hundreds of men, women, and children performed a ritual that preceded the ceremony of two war canoes that were launched into the river. This ceremony showed just how special our visit was to this magical place. This day will be remembered by all; a day that truly embodies expedition travel.
Today in the Portuguese city of Porto, we immersed ourselves in the rich heritage of the world’s oldest wine region, famous for its port wine. We were offered three different tour options to begin our exploration. The first was a visit to the nineteenth-century Stock Exchange Palace and the neighboring St. Francis Church, which is covered from floor to ceiling in gilded wood decoration, reflecting the wealth of Portugal’s maritime empire. The second option was a tour of the Clerigos Tower, a Baroque bell tower which has been Portugal’s tallest since 1763, and the nearby Livraria Lello, a neo-Gothic bookstore that dazzled us with its ornately carved staircase, a must-visit for book and architecture lovers. The final option was a guided walk through the Bolhao neighborhood, visiting its renowned market and City Hall before admiring the azulejo tiles at the Sao Bento Train Station. This tour concluded with a panoramic view from the Porto Cathedral’s terrace. In the evening, we all reconvened to enjoy a multi-course dinner at the Porto Ferreira wine cellars, the only port wine company that has remained in Portuguese hands. We ended this gorgeous day with a wine tasting and a musical performance by the local band Retimbrar.