The Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park are one of the country’s great natural attractions and, although a bit difficult to access, well worth a visit. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=150366&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=2 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST San Ignacio lagoon

This morning everything started a bit earlier than usual; excitement could be felt in the air as we all had an early breakfast as the National Geographic Sea Bird entered the protected harbor at Santa Rosalía. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=150396&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=5 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST Cerro Dragon & Sombrero Chino

We had an early start today as we hiked Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) through the mud and mosquitoes to see the elusive land iguana. After, we returned to the ship for another delicious buffet breakfast. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=150425&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=9 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST Southern Isabela Island

This was our last day at the western part of the largest island of Galápagos, Isabela. We started our day with a short navigation from Fernandina to Urbina Bay on board the National Geographic Islander. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=150347&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=1 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST Golfo Dulce, Casa Orquideas & Rio Esquinas

We spent our first day in Costa Rica exploring the deep, inner reaches of Golfo Dulce, or “sweet gulf.” This large embayment lies to the east of the Osa Peninsula, and is one of the wettest places in Costa Rica. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=150365&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=2 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST Isla Santa Catalina & Gulf of California

One talks about the weather incessantly. At home or away, with friends or with strangers, the topic is a conversation opener or a realm of familiarity upon meeting. To say “we hid from the wind,” is then understood by all but it takes a sailor to comprehend that it wasn’t the breezes ruffling our hair that caused us concern but the frosting of white that danced on the top of the waves that made some wish for relief. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=150395&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=5 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST Santa Cruz Island

Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island, is the largest town in Galápagos, its economic center, and the home of the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS). We began our day with a visit to the research station where we learned about some of the breeding efforts performed there. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=150424&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=9 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST Isabela & Fernandina Islands

The sun rising above the volcanoes of Isabela Island and the sea breeze was our wake-up call this morning; as we were navigating along the coast we could sea one of the most amazing volcanic formations of the whole archipelago. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=150346&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=1 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST Coiba National Park, Panama

Coiba is one of the most unique parks of the park system of Panama in many ways. To begin with, Coiba is an island, and a very big one, amounting to the largest island on the Pacific coast of the Americas. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=150364&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=2 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST Los Islotes & Ensenada Grande

The first lights of this day found us in the vicinity of Los Islotes, a small group of islets that are home of a wide variety of wildlife. Our first activity of the day was for those venturous snorkelers who wanted the experience of swimming close with the sea lions that use these rocks as their home all year round. Read more ...]]>