Bartholomew Island and Chinese Hat Islet, 1/30/2020, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
We landed on Bartholomew Island before breakfast to walk along a wooden trail all the way up a mountain. Four endemic species of settler plants were seen and identified along the path, as well as the odd lava lizard. After breakfast we snorkeled, rode our Zodiacs, or enjoyed our glass bottomed boat. We spotted several Galapagos penguins along the shore.
In the afternoon, we visited Chinese Hat Islet, where after the talk about Lucy by Dr. Donald Johansen, we were able to choose between snorkeling and Zodiac rides along the coast.
A day full of activities ends with a BBQ dinner on the Sun Deck of National Geographic Endeavour II in this natural paradise called The Enchanted Islands or, Galapagos.
Fabian Bucheli studied at the German School in Quito, graduated from the University of California with a bachelor of science in administration, and earned a master’s degree in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in A...
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Today was our last day in the western part of the archipelago. It was special to see creatures that can only be found in this region of the Galapagos, like Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants. Guests enjoyed water activities. Some went snorkeling while others enjoyed a relaxed kayaking and paddleboarding along the calm shore of Tagus Cove. We finished the day with an invigorating walk to a beautiful viewpoint, from which we could see the vastness of the Bolivar Canal in between Fernandina and Isabela Islands.
We are cruising around the islands with the most active volcanoes of the Galapagos, and we can see the shapes of these shield volcanoes from the ship. This interesting landscape is very characteristic of the western islands, which are the youngest in the archipelago. The early morning outing to Punta Espinoza is always one of the highlights of this expedition. An interesting and pristine paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, this place is full of life. There is no other place in the world where you must watch your step so carefully to avoid the marine iguanas that are basking in the sun. They do this to thermoregulate their body heat so they can survive in this tropical environment. After the hikes, we prepared for a deep-water snorkeling activity. The conditions were great, and we enjoyed this bay. It was full of wildlife, including green sea turtles, marine iguanas feeding underwater, playful Galapagos sea lions, different schools of fish, flightless cormorants deep diving, and even Galapagos penguins that passed by as they tried to get some food. Back on board, we enjoyed a lunch of Mexican food with delicious margaritas and three chocolate desserts! After lunch, we enjoyed more outings. During Zodiac rides along the coast of Punta Vicente Roca, we observed the volcanic landscape. The area has abundant and amazing wildlife due to the upwelling of the Cromwell Current, which provides a wealth of nutrients to the waters. Back on the ship, we were invited to a wine tasting event while we cruised by the collapsed caldera of Volcan Ecuador. As we crossed the Ecuadorian line, we were surprised by a visit from some “local pirates.” The visit created a great atmosphere and helped us celebrate a wonderful day on this expedition. We enjoyed a gorgeous sunset from the observation deck.
During our first full day, guests of National Geographic Endeavour II explored North Seymour Island during the morning. Everybody went on a hike to observe and photograph marine birds, like blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. During the afternoon, guests had the chance to snorkel and hike on Rabida Island.
