Santa Cruz Island, 7/13/2021, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today our guests explored Santa Cruz Island. After a delicious breakfast, we landed at the Itabaca Channel and immediately got into buses to drive up to the highlands of the island where we would spend the morning. During this visit, our guests learned about the natural history of the iconic giant tortoises and hiked into giant tortoise territory.
In the afternoon, the Captain and crew repositioned National Geographic Endeavour II and set anchor at Las Bachas, a white sand beach. Here our guests had opportunities to walk along the beach, swim or snorkel.
Salvador Cazar studied biology at the Universidad Nacional Del Sur, Bahía Blanca, in Argentina and at the Catholic University of Ecuador. Between 1988 and 1994, Salvador worked as a naturalist and tour leader for several national and international to...
Upon arriving on Santa Cruz Island, everything looked different from what we had seen so far. The arid lowlands we had grown accustomed to were replaced by a bustling town. The bay was filled with ships and sailboats gently swaying in the water. Our first stop was the breeding center at the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we saw species in recovery — some, like the Floreana giant tortoise, being brought back from the brink of extinction. It was incredibly exciting! As we made our way up to the highlands, we caught a glimpse of daily life in the Galapagos. We visited Romer Ochoa’s Ecological Farm and the Sugar Cane Trapiche, followed by a delicious lunch at El Manzanillo Ranch. There, we had the unique opportunity to see tortoises in the wild, munching on grass, wallowing in mud ponds, and even attempting to mate — though not very successfully in this instance. The day ended aboard the ship with an inspiring talk from a shark scientist, another delicious meal, and then local music and dancing. We joined in to celebrate with traditional Galapagueño rhythms. We all went to bed happy, knowing that we are now bound to return to the Galapagos — after all, we’ve sipped the legendary “Agua de Pelikan Bay.”
One full day visiting Floreana Island gave us an idea of just how powerful this place is! We explored the area from sunrise to sunset, and every minute of the day was charged with something exciting. We enjoyed kayaking next to sea lions, hiking with lots of land birds, snorkeling with sharks, riding the glass-bottom boat with amazing marine life, Zodiac cruising with dolphins, and learning some history with the Post Office visit! Floreana Island is definitely a magnificent place!
Today, the adventure began on the golden shores of Gardner Bay, Española Island. Here, our guests enjoyed their first snorkeling session in the crystal-clear waters, swimming alongside curious and playful Galápagos sea lions – a truly magical introduction to the archipelago’s marine life. In the afternoon, we headed to Punta Suárez, one of the most iconic visitor sites in the Galápagos. Along the trail, we encountered sunbathing marine iguanas with their distinctive red and green hues, and the elusive Galápagos dove walking calmly across the rocky path. The highlight of the visit was witnessing the majestic waved albatross – a species found only on Española between April and December. Guests marveled as these graceful seabirds displayed their elaborate courtship rituals, gliding effortlessly over the cliffs. A perfect blend of marine and land wildlife made this day an unforgettable start to our Galápagos journey.
