Our day began with a pre-breakfast climb on Bartholomew Island, where we had the chance to learn about geological features like cinder cones and tuff cones. There are lava flows that date back about 200 years. We enjoyed a snorkeling activity in the same area.
Then we moved the ship to another islet called Chinese Hat. We had the option to snorkel or ride in a dinghy to see some Galapagos penguins.
5/19/2022
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Early in the morning, we came ashore to explore Bartolome Island, one of the most iconic places in the Galapagos. In the afternoon, we visited Chinese Hat, a very old scoria crater located at the foot of Santiago, not far from Bartolome Island. Our intrepid guests onboard National Geographic Endeavour II explored the terrestrial and marine worlds of Bartolome and Sombrero Chino. Our day began with an invigorating early morning hike to the summit of Bartolome. We climbed 376 steps to enjoy a breathtaking view from different angles. It was well worth the effort to get to the top! During the Zodiac ride to the disembarkation site, we observed a few seabirds hunting over the ocean, including boobies, pelicans, and noddy terns. Bartolome Island offers a diversity of geological formations, including volcanic ash and a plethora of spatter cones. Guests learned about some of the pioneer plants of the Galapagos, including the endemic lava cactus. Afterward, they explored the marine world surrounding Bartolome, coming face to face with whitetip reef sharks, penguins, rays, and a variety of tropical fish. In the afternoon, guests snorkeled around the coastline of the peculiarly shaped islet, Sombrero Chino. They swam with Galapagos penguins, tropical fish, and reef sharks. We concluded the day’s activities with a peaceful Zodiac ride along Sombrero Chino as we discussed the geology of the Galapagos and the unique wildlife found in the area. Photographers: Christian Saa and Walter Perez
5/18/2022
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Early in the morning, we disembarked onto a rocky landing to explore a colorful visitor site known as Dragon Hill. We walked into the island to explore the natural habitat of the Galapagos land iguanas. We were lucky to encounter around twenty golden reptiles, some of them eating prickly pear cacti, while others rested under the shade of green vegetation. We also spotted several ground birds like small and medium ground finches, a couple of common cactus finches, and Galapagos mockingbirds. After passing through an incense tree forest, we arrived to the natural habitat of the land iguanas. These reptiles are endemic to the Galapagos, found on six different islands of the archipelago. Throughout the season, we can find several flowering plants covering the area where the land iguanas nest. After our morning hike, we got ready to go deep water snorkeling. We encountered several species of fish, a couple playful sea lions, and a large variety of marine invertebrates along the vertical walls. Soon after, we came back to the ship to enjoy a traditional Ecuadorian lunch. Our hotel manager introduced us to everything on the menu. After lunch, we went on a Zodiac ride along the coast of Bahia Borrero; this incredible mangrove inlet is home to an amazing amount of wildlife. As soon as we arrived, we encountered nearly two hundred golden cownose rays. Watching this giant school of rays was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. We also spotted a few baby whitetip reef sharks, as well as nesting brown pelicans and a couple great blue herons. Some of us had the opportunity to go kayaking around the coastline of Borrero Bay, where we paddled among golden rays and baby blacktip reef sharks. During the afternoon, we had a delightful time up on the sundeck as we circumnavigated Daphne Islet. We learned about the science that took place on the small islet, relative to the evolution of Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos Archipelago.
5/17/2022
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National Geographic Endeavour II
This morning, we started our day in an unusual way. Santa Cruz has the largest human population in the Galapagos, with about 20,000 people. After breakfast, we boarded our Zodiac and headed to the main pier of Puerto Ayora, where all the citizens had already started their day. Buses took us to the Charles Darwin Research Station and National Park Breeding Center facilities. Our guests were eager to learn more about the breeding program for giant tortoises, and they were all enthusiastic to see the specimen of a very famous tortoise: Lonesome George. Naturalists shared a small glimpse into the activities taking place at the fishing dock, where fresh catches were sold. Pelicans and a playful sea lion made the moment extra special as we watched the skills of people busy cleaning the fresh fish. On our way to lunch, we made a quick stop at Don Adriano’s farm to learn about the sugarcane, chocolate, and moonshine that are locally produced. This was definitely a highlight of the day. Guests enjoyed learning about what local communities do to subsist in the Galapagos, in addition to tourism. It was now time for a wonderful lunch at Manzanillo Ranch. Our guests enjoyed the local coffee and the ample space with a wonderful view of very lush land. Afterwards, we took a relaxed and educational walk among giant tortoises, baby white-cheeked pintail ducks, different species of Darwin’s finches, and cattle mooing in the background. What a combo! It was finally time to go back to our floating home, National Geographic Endeavour II . After a very entertaining evening with recaps and cocktails, guests enjoyed the wonders of the local cuisine at dinner. Photo caption: Giant tortoise grazing in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Photo by Christian Saa
