Santa Cruz Island, 6/24/2021, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today we explored Santa Cruz Island, home to many of our naturalists and home to the most beautiful giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands. It was a fantastic day for close encounters with all kinds of giants: massive craters, 10-meter-tall daisies, and of course the giant tortoises.
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...
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Our early start on Floreana Island was a perfect way to begin the day. As soon as we stepped on the island, magic happened. Some flamingoes started arriving at the local lagoon of Punta Cormorant, doing several runs before landing in the area. It was a truly special experience that permitted us to take amazing photos of this unique moment, seeing them in flight. The “mystic island” kept impressing us with its beaty throughout the day.
Today, we began our activities with a deep-water snorkeling session in Gardner Bay. Our guests were thrilled to interact with playful sea lions and an array of colorful fish, creating unforgettable underwater experiences. Following the snorkeling adventure, we visited the pristine sands of Gardner Beach. Here, we encountered the Española mockingbird walking confidently close to our guests, seemingly unbothered by their presence. Many were captivated by the serene beauty and gentle demeanor of the sea lions resting on shore. After lunch we arrived at Punta Suárez. Disembarking, we ventured inland, exploring an island bursting with life. Among the black volcanic rocks, we admired the vividly colored marine iguanas, whose green and reddish tones contrasted dramatically against the black rocks. Nearby, we observed Española lava lizards, the largest in the archipelago. The highlight of the visit was encountering the Galápagos albatross, the largest seabird in the archipelago. We saw many albatrosses soaring, nesting, and resting. As the sun set, we returned to the ship after an extraordinary day filled with nature’s wonders.
San Cristóbal Island, one of the oldest in the Galápagos archipelago, is known for its stunning landscapes. We woke up next to Punta Pitt in the northern part of the island, where we explored a colony of frigates and blue- and red-footed boobies.
