On our last day of adventure onboard National Geographic Endeavour II, we visited Genovesa Island, a horseshoe-shaped island located in the northeastern region of the Galapagos archipelago. This island is certainly a bird paradise—its isolation has created the perfect conditions for sea birds. Currently, sea birds are within the most numerous inhabitants of the place, and we spent our day walking among hundreds of Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, frigatebirds and the very colorful red-footed boobies. All of these marvelous birds are fearless and undisturbed by our presence, making it one of the most extraordinary places on earth. This experience is breathtaking, beyond any expectation or dream, and surely today´s images will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.
5/2/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Sombrero Chino Islands
We awoke at sunrise and observed the majestic Bartolomé Island showered by the first sunrays of the morning. Our first hike of the day was invigorating, almost 400 steps to the summit of Bartolomé to appreciate the astonishing beauty of the surroundings. What an amazing view! We saw several parasitic volcanoes, an underwater crater, golden sandy beach, and the many shades of blue of the ocean. On our way back to National Geographic Endeavour II, we took a detour to search for the iconic Galapagos penguins and we found them. Yay! Our afternoon destination was Chinese Hat, a small island surrounded by lava fields, fine white sand, and crystal-clear waters. We went snorkeling and swimming and had more encounters with Galapagos penguins. They’re so fast, they look like they’re flying under the water. The day wouldn’t have been complete without a sunset exploration by Zodiac to explore the coasts of Santiago Island and Chinese Hat. Some friendly sea lions greeted us with their spectacular, playful behavior. Soon, we found ourselves riding back under the light of the sunset with the impressive volcanic background of the Galapagos.