Bartolomé & Sombrero Chino , 12/15/2022, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today we visited the incredible islets of Bartolomé and Sombrero Chino. These visitors’ sites gave us the most amazing snorkeling opportunities and the chance to see one of the most charismatic animals of the Galapagos, the Galapagos penguin.
Anahí grew up in a small house by the beach in the Galápagos Islands. Along with her best friend, she used to wander during the days around mangrove trees, becoming a different animal every day. She used to camp on solitary beaches, snorkel with shar...
Today’s expedition led us to Punta Pitt on San Cristóbal Island, the easternmost landing in the Galápagos. We hiked a rugged trail carved by erosion through ancient tuff cones, reaching the summit in search of the elusive red-footed booby— the third booby species found in the archipelago. Along the way, we were treated to sightings of a few blue-footed boobies as well. In the afternoon, we explored Cerro Brujo, a stunning white-sand beach where sea lions lounged peacefully in the sun. To end the day, we circumnavigated the iconic Kicker Rock aboard National Geographic Endeavour II , enjoying a breathtaking sunset that lit up the surrounding islands.
Our amazing morning started with perfect weather, not too sunny or too cloudy. Visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, we learned about the challenges involved in the ongoing conservation efforts for the giant tortoises. We continued our journey into the highlands of Santa Cruz, where we experienced firsthand the developments of the Galapagos pioneers, including different ways of processing coffee, cacao, and sugar cane. Later at El Manzanillo Ranch, we shared the natural environment of the iconic giant tortoises, and learned about their behaviors and survival over the past few centuries.
Our morning started with an exciting Zodiac ride in very calm waters. We were able to see the most elegant seabird, the Nazca booby. We spent the second part of the morning on the glass bottom boat and in kayaks. We had so much fun observing sea lions, lots of fish, sharks, and even a manta ray through the glass. It was fantastic! By the afternoon, we had already sailed to a different location on Santiago Island. Puerto Egas, once a salt mine colony, offered us a very pleasant nature walk. We observed a few Galapagos land iguanas which were part of a conservation project for this beautiful and endemic reptile. As we took the trail back, a small colony of fur seals were basking on the rocks and swimming. At the end of our exploration, we encountered the mysterious Galapagos hawk! It’s the largest bird of prey, imposing yet calm.
