Santiago Island - Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer’s Cove and Egas Port, 7/7/2021, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Through enormous conservation efforts, Santiago Island has begun to recover from ecological damage caused by past human activity. Once adopted by the Galapagos National Park, the island has slowly been restored to its wild state, as it might have appeared before its discovery more than centuries ago.
Walter was born in a very small town on the mainland of Ecuador. His first trip to the Galápagos was when he was 12 years old, visiting friends and aunt, who had moved to the islands. From the first moment he saw the Islands, he fell in love with the...
We started our expedition by visiting one of the oldest islands of the archipelago and quite a fantastic one. We explored the beach in the morning and the inside of the island in the afternoon. Our first outing was a snorkel exploration of a small islet located on Gardner Bay, where we observed sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, and many colorful fish! The temperature of the water, great visibility, and an abundance of life made for an outstanding first deep-water snorkel. We also walked and swam on a beautiful white sand beach next to the big colony of sea lions that live here. In the afternoon, we hiked on Suárez Point. This is the only site in the archipelago where we can find the very famous waved albatross. We walked a rocky trail and spotted marine iguanas and lava lizards with nearly every step before reaching the nesting grounds of Nazca boobies and the albatrosses. These wonderful and magnificent marine birds nested and displayed for their mates. We observed the beauty of these animals as we enjoyed the sunset. It was a spectacular first full day.
Our day on San Cristóbal Island was full of pure magic and laughter. We started bright and early with an epic adventure. We disembarked for a hike at Punta Pitt, where every step felt like walking through a living postcard. There we saw unique red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and blue-footed boobies. Some brave souls took a refreshing swim in the sea, laughing and soaking up the last rays of sun. In the afternoon, the excitement continued with a landing at Cerro Brujo beach. The powdery white sand felt like walking on clouds as we strolled along the dreamy coastline, each wave crashing like nature’s applause for our journey. We were back on board just in time for a cocktail on the Upper Deck as we sailed toward Kicker Rock with a beautiful sunset that could have made poets cry. Finally, we gathered for our Farewell Toast. Between laughter, cheers, and snapshots, we celebrated a week full of unforgettable memories. We weren’t just travelers anymore — we were a family of adventurers, forever connected by this incredible journey.
The day began with clear skies over Puerto Ayora, the main town on Santa Cruz Island and a central hub for visitors to the Galápagos. We visited the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center where we saw baby tortoises up close and learned about Lonesome George, a powerful symbol of the archipelago’s unique biodiversity. We then headed into the highlands, beginning with a visit to an ecological farm that demonstrated coffee production and hydroponic farming. The experience offered valuable insight into sustainable practices and the lifestyle of the island’s early settlers. Our final stop was El Manzanillo Ranch, located along a giant tortoise migratory route. After enjoying lunch at the ranch, we explored the grounds and observed the tortoises roaming freely—a magical end to an unforgettable day.
