Santa Cruz Island, 11/13/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today we visited the Northwestern realm of Santa Cruz Island. The outing on Cerro Dragon allowed us to visit the home of one of the most emblematic creatures of the archipelago, the golden Galapagos land iguanas. After our hike, we went for a remarkable snorkel with plenty of colorful fish, playful sea lions, and lots of sea stars.
Later, we arrived at Bahia Borrero where we explored the bay kayaking. The highlight of the afternoon outing was the number of baby sharks and rays that our guests found in the mangrove forest.
We ended the day on the top deck with a wine tasting event at sunset, a perfect ending to a perfect day.
Omar arrived at the Galapagos with his family when he just a year old. His father was a Naturalist in the islands and would take him exploring both on land and in the water, aboard the ships he was working on. At an early age, he learned all about th...
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The equatorial tropical sun is on the horizon and shines this beautiful morning in Gardner Bay. We are anchored in the turquoise waters surrounded by white sandy beaches where sea lions are basking and the iguanas feed on green algae. We went out to snorkel and swim with the colorful Galapagos marine life. We also walked along the shoreline looking for seabirds, land birds and marine turtles. After having a great morning, our captain motored to the west side of the island to visit Punta Suarez. It is a spot full of wildlife where we walked inland to admire the spectacular scenery and a wide variety of fauna. We found colorful marine iguanas, colonies of sea lions, Nazca boobies, and the famous blue-footed booby just a few feet from us. This was our first full day on our journey exploring this astonishing archipelago called Galapagos.
Our day started with a great breakfast and a visit to Punta Pitt. We visited Punta Pitt where we found red-footed boobies, sea lions, and marine iguanas before our last snorkeling excursion. In the afternoon we visited Cerro Brujo for beach time to close out an amazing week.
Our day on Santa Cruz Island began with a visit to the renowned Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, where conservationists are working tirelessly to protect the future of the Galápagos giant tortoises. We observed tiny hatchlings, just months old, steadily making their way through enclosures designed to ensure their survival before being released into the wild. Seeing the various stages of growth—from juveniles to the impressive adult tortoises—gave us a deeper appreciation for the incredible conservation efforts that have helped recover populations once on the brink of extinction. In the afternoon, we ventured into the lush highlands, where we encountered these giants in their natural habitat. Among the misty foliage, we witnessed an extraordinary sight—a rare mating display. A massive male approached a female, stretching his neck and lifting his shell in a show of dominance. His deep, resonant bellows echoed through the forest, an unmistakable sign of courtship. The slow yet deliberate interaction was a reminder of the patience and resilience these creatures embody, having survived on these islands for millions of years. Santa Cruz’s highlands remain one of the best places to observe these magnificent creatures, and our experience today highlighted both their enduring presence and the efforts to ensure their survival for generations to come.