Española Island, 7/2/2017, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
During our first full day in the Galapagos National Geographic Endeavour II explored Española, the most southeastern island of the archipelago.
We started our day in the northeast of the island at Gardner Bay exploring the underwater world while snorkeling at nearby Gardner Islet. Later on we joined other guests at beautiful Gardner Bay beach where well over a hundred endemic Galapagos sea lions basked innocently and not worried at all by our presence.
During lunch we sailed along the leeward north coast of the island. After a well-deserved siesta we landed once more at Punta Suarez where we were greeted by playful sea lions pups frolicking in the shallows as marine iguanas tried to make the most of the easy grazing during the afternoon low tide. As we made our way around the inland trail soon we came across the largest birds in the Galapagos, the waved albatross which only breeds on Española. The walk along the difficult terrain was well worth it as some guests even got to witness courtship which is somewhat rare at this stage where most albatross are already incubating eggs.
All in all, just an amazing day in one of most special corners of this archipelago.
Ben is a German-Ecuadorian naturalist guide who grew up on San Cristobal, the eastern-most island of the Galápagos Archipelago, home to the political capital of the province.
Another action-packed and unforgettable day unfolded in the wild western reaches of the Galápagos Islands. We began with a gentle morning stretch, followed by an early hike along Urbina Bay — a surreal landscape born from the uplift of the seafloor. Towering shield volcanoes loomed around us, creating a dramatic backdrop. Golden land iguanas basked in the morning sun, while Darwin’s finches, mockingbirds, and vibrant yellow warblers flitted through the dry brush, offering glimpses of the archipelago’s famous evolutionary story.
Our young explorers took to the helm this morning, learning to drive Zodiacs with confidence and a healthy dose of laughter. On board, we delved into the fascinating human history of the archipelago, unravelling stories of pirates, pioneers, and scientists who once roamed these shores. After a scrumptious Ecuadorian lunch, our afternoon was brimming with adventure: kayaking through the impressive geology and calm waters of Tagus Cove and snorkeling among unique sea life. The real stars of the afternoon? The lightning-fast, tuxedoed Galápagos penguins, zipping around us in the water, leaving us in awe of their agility.As the day ended, half of our group hiked the trail above Tagus Cove, while others enjoyed a peaceful panga ride around Darwin Volcano.
Today we explored Fernandina Island, the youngest island in the Galapagos and one of the most stunning. Here we were surrounded by hundreds of marine iguanas that blend perfectly with their own environment; it was a perfect example to learn about evolution with our naturalist guides. During the afternoon we went to Punta Vicente Roca, where we explored with Zodiac rides along the amazing volcanic formations. Sea turtles, sea lions, flightless cormorants, pelicans, penguins, and blue-footed boobies were all over the place. We had an amazing time here in the western region of the Galapagos Islands.
Our new guests arrived yesterday and today was the first full day of our expedition in the Galapagos Islands. The first stop was South Plaza, where we disembarked very early in the morning to take advantage of wildlife being more active at that time. In Plazas you can observe a wide variety of wildlife, including yellow land iguanas, a large colony of sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and their chicks, tropicbirds, and lava lizards. The afternoon started with deep-water snorkeling in the calm and clear waters of Santa Fe Island. Soon after we left the ship again, this time to explore this island by land and find the unique species that is found only here: the Santa Fe land iguana. It was definitely a great first day in this magical archipelago!
