Tower Island, 12/8/2017, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Today we woke up anchored in the middle of a caldera of the main extinct volcano that formed this old island. Tower Island is located north of the equatorial line and therefore sits away from the wind and cold-water currents that bade the southern and western archipelago; this has resulted in Galapagos hawks never having settled here. Therefore short-eared owls have evolved into the apex predator of this island, hunting for storm petrels in broad daylight. Adaptations that lead to speciation.
Fabian Bucheli studied at the German School in Quito, graduated from the University of California with a bachelor of science in administration, and earned a master’s degree in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in A...
Navigation brought us to the largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago, Isabela. Holding half of all land mass in the Galapagos, it has a diverse selection of ecosystems that we were able to visit. Urvina Bay was geologically uplifted in the 1950’s, taking two square kilometers of seafloor that was thrust upward, in certain areas up to four meters out of the water. Intertidal species were stranded inland, and we walked upon this area. Galapagos giant tortoises and land iguanas were found on our trail, and we were surrounded by Darwin finches and Galapagos mockingbirds. The afternoon brought us to Tagus Cove where we explored the surrounding waters, encountering Galapagos penguins and Pacific green sea turtles swimming among the kayakers and snorkelers. As the sun dipped below the horizon, adventurous hikers took a fast-paced hike to enjoy an incredible view of Darwin Lake and the immense island of Isabela.
Our visit to Floreana was a magical and peaceful experience, from a pre breakfast Zodiac ride to kayaking and snorkeling before lunch. In the evening, we enjoyed a sunset hike with flamingos and amazing colors in the sky. Floreana Island welcomed us with unforgettable experiences. Photos by Ixora Berdonces and Walter Perez
Located east of the Galapagos Archipelago, San Cristobal is a stunning island thanks to its geology. As it is one of the oldest, winds and waves have taken their toll, carving into sedimentary rocks, leaving beautiful formations and walls. We visited Punta Pitt in the morning, home to one of five colonies of red-footed boobies. They perch on trees and bushes, and their bright-red feet bring extra color to the vegetation. We had a chance to swim and snorkel off the olivine beach. There is nothing better than being accompanied on a swim by a couple of playful Galapagos sea lions. Captain Nathaly Alban repositioned our beautiful ship to Cerro Brujo by midday, and for a little while, we were followed by curious juvenile boobies. In the afternoon, weather conditions were perfect for us to explore the walls of the tuff cone that dominates this site. The beach here is one of the most beautiful in the islands, with its white, coralline sand and turquoise waters. Back on board, we admired a magnificent Galapagos sunset with some wine tasting as we navigated by the iconic Kicker Rock, celebrating the end of another day in this remote paradise.
