North Seymour & Rabida Islands, 4/30/2017, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today we visited two of the most incredible Islands of Galapagos, North Seymour and Rabida. Everything started with a delicious breakfast, then a great early hike in the morning with two different species of frigates, blue footed boobies, Galapagos land iguanas, Galapagos sea lions, and many other animals found in the amazing island of North Seymour.
After this, it was time to move to the next island: Rabida, where we had the opportunity to snorkel with tons of colorful fish and sea stars, to kayak along the cost of this incredible place!, and everything just before a hike in Rabida the “Red Island”.
Jose Sanchez was born on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galápagos Islands. His father was a captain working on ships in the Galápagos, while his mother is an elementary school teacher, and he has three sisters.
Mark Clement grew up in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York, where he developed a deep appreciation for wild places at a young age. Now living in the Green Mountains of Vermont, he has made a career out of capturing the beau...
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!
