Expedition Stories

Our fleet navigates the world in search of adventure. These are the stories they bring back…

Featured Articles

In Brief

World View

2/14/2025

Read

Photos of the Week, February 14, 2025

In honor of Valentine's Day, this week's photos from the field feature romantic sunrises and sunsets from Vietnam and Baja California, animal courtships in the Galápagos, and undersea heart-hands in French Polynesia.

Daily Expedition Reports

Follow Along

Daily Expedition Reports

3/16/2025

Read

National Geographic Quest

Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge

Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge was created and protected by law around 1981. This is a 53-hectare wildlife reserve that has 13 hectares of dry tropical rainforest surrounded with a 40 hectare of coral reefs. There is also a large colony of frigatebirds that use this island as an important nesting area.   Our guests took the opportunity to explore this refuge with our naturalists and as they did, they passed the nesting area of the frigatebirds. Several males had their gular pouches inflated and were expecting to soon be joined by females.   After walks around the premises, we grabbed our gear and went snorkeling. The coral reef that surrounds the islands has over 17 species of coral and a bit more than 340 species of fish. Not only were fish found, but also hawk-billed sea turtles.   There was so much to see along the beach, too. A pair of American oystercatchers were found guarding their nest. Two eggs were eagerly protected by their parents.   We returned on board and during cocktail hour, we shared our thoughts about the marvelous day we had spent in the wildlife refuge.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/16/2025

Read

National Geographic Islander II

Floreana Island

Floreana Island has a rich human history marked by early exploration, colonization attempts, and intrigue. This island became a stopover for pirates and whalers in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. In 1832, Ecuador claimed the Galápagos, and Floreana saw its first official settlement. Today, Floreana is home to a small community focused on conservation and sustainable tourism.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/16/2025

Read

National Geographic Endeavour II

Floreana Island

Today's expedition took us to two iconic locations on Española Island - Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez. First, we visited Gardner Bay where we were welcomed by a pristine white sandy beach, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and playful sea lions lounging along the shore.   Afterward, we headed to Punta Suárez, famous for its towering cliffs and abundant wildlife. The trail led us through rugged terrain where we encountered blue-footed boobies, Española lava lizards, and numerous seabirds nesting on the cliffs. The diversity of wildlife and breathtaking landscapes made for an unforgettable experience, showcasing the natural beauty of this unique island.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/16/2025

Read

National Geographic Delfina

San Cristobal Island

We started our day at San Cristobal Island with a pre-breakfast hike to the top of an ancient cinder cone where we found a colony of red-footed boobies. After breakfast we went ashore to snorkel and swim, enjoying the warm temperature of the water.   After lunch, we were navigating towards Cerro Brujo when we spotted a pod of orcas. Our captain turned the ship around to have a better look of the pod but instead we found a large pod of bottlenose dolphins and a pod of false killer whales. Among the species of whales we find in Galapagos, these are not that common, so we felt lucky when one came close to bow ride with us. We walked along the coast of Cerro Brujo and ended our day circumnavigating Leon Dormido Islet. It was an amazing day!

Daily Expedition Reports

3/16/2025

Read

National Geographic Sea Bird

Bahia Almejas

We took full advantage of the beautiful weather today and went whale watching in both the morning and the afternoon. Our lovely pangueros picked us up bright and early, and we set out for a day full of gray whales. Here to breed and give birth to calves, these gray whales have a reputation for getting incredibly close to boats. We observed spy-hopping and breaching. It was a special day in the lagoon of Magdalena Bay.