This week's photos from the field included sunsets in Baja California, animal close-ups in the Galápagos Islands and penguins in Antarctica and South Georgia Island.
This week's photos from the field included iconic bird species in the Galápagos Islands, a pod of dolphins in Baja California, and an underwater cave in the South Pacific.
Learn how guests aboard select voyages with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions can observe research and conservation in action through the Science at Sea program.
In this short film, learn more about the historic relationship between Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic and the way it shapes expeditions for guests.
When visiting a foreign country, I think there is no better way to get a feel for a place than to do what local people do; to eat, travel, and experience what their lives are like on a day-to-day basis. Today we got to do just that in the Vietnamese town of Chau Doc. We started our day with a local boat ride to town, then a tour of the city on a cyclo, followed by a visit to the local market where we were free to explore on our own, and finally a visit to one of the main businesses of the town, a fish farm. We immersed ourselves and enjoyed every minute.
A gorgeous sunrise at the canal marked the start of our first journey in Panama, where we explored three amazing sites. National Geographic Quest is the only vessel to cross the canal in two tracts, so we visited Barro Colorado Island, Gamboa Rain Forest Discovery Center, Lake Gatun, and the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks. Hikes, Zodiac cruises, and panga rides around the lake enhanced our exploration of the tropics, offering a first glimpse into the region’s high biodiversity. We saw snail kites, white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, a two-toed sloth, tamarin monkeys, anhingas, black-bellied whistling ducks, and wattled jacanas, all illustrating the wildlife and its beauty. There could not have been a better immersion than the combination of the rain forest experience and crossing one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Panama Canal. Photos by Fico Chacón and Ronald Calvo Aguilar
Our expedition day started with a pre-breakfast hike at Cerro Dragon to see the land iguanas. They were along the trail basking in the early morning sun. Also nearby were flycatchers, and at one point five of them surrounded the group as if they were joining in our hike. After a delicious breakfast, we got ready for our second activity of the day, which was snorkeling along Northern Santa Cruz. Afterwards, we had plenty of sunshine to enjoy while watching wildlife in Borrero Bay by Zodiac cruising and kayaking. To end our day, we celebrated with a wine tasting on the sky deck during sunset while we circumnavigated Daphne Major. It was a full day of exploration aboard National Geographic Endeavour II .
This morning, as the sun rose over Phnom Penh, many of the Cambodian capital’s two million residents were already out and going about their day. Some took advantage of an early morning stroll along the waterfront, all while The Jahan prepared to set sail down the river. Today was our last day in Cambodia, but before we left, we had a special guest presentation from Jean-Michel Filippi who talked about modern Cambodian history and the Khmer Rouge. While seemingly nothing can adequately explain the madness, this helped fill in the blanks and provided further insight. We spent the rest of the day cruising downstream to the international border where, after dealing with customs and immigration, we successfully entered Vietnam! We also had a cooking class where we learned how to make regional specialties, and then as sunset approached, we entered the Tan Chau Canal. This man-made channel connects the Mekong River to the Bassac, the two main arms of the delta which emanate from the confluence at Phnom Penh. We passed many floating houses at close range as these villagers worked, relaxed, and played in the golden afternoon sunlight.
The day began early, with the first light illuminating the Patagonian Steppe. Crossing the vast pampas, we saw guanacos, Darwin’s rhea, and grey foxes. We passed through crystal-clear rivers and expansive vistas of turquoise lakes. We admired the famous towering granite peaks of Torres del Paine, three imposing granite spires that rise nearly 3,000 meters. Hikers set off on trails that wind through dense shrubby, herbaceous plants. As we hiked, the mighty granite spires rose in the distance with their snow-capped tips piercing the sky and condors soaring overhead. The weather shifted dramatically, with bursts of sunshine followed by gusty winds, adding to the raw beauty of the terrain. For a true experience of Patagonia, we had a Calafate sour and an outstanding lamb for lunch. Our day in Torres del Paine National Park was an unforgettable adventure amidst stunning landscapes.
