In this Expedition Spotlight, naturalist Steve Zeff reveals the vast beauty and natural wonders found in Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world.
The highly maneuverable 48-guest National Geographic Gemini is geared for discovery in the Galápagos with expedition tools and onboard experiences that will expand your understanding of this legendary destination.
The sunrise reflected yellow off the steep cliffs of Santa Rosa Island, and we knew we had a great day in store. The entire group headed ashore on the second largest of the Channel Islands for hikes. We were greeted by an extravaganza of wildflowers. Giant coreopsis painted the hills yellow and towered over meadow hikers. Purple lupine, Indian paintbrush, and California poppies created a kaleidoscope of color along our paths. Some of our group headed for a longer hike to one of the two groves of Torrey Pines that exist on the planet. Some of us took part in casual walks around the historical Vail and Vickers cattle ranch and along the coastal bluffs. And all of us searched for the elusive and adorable endemic Santa Rosa Island fox… and some of us found them! After lunch we headed back to the island for specialized walks to focus on photography, search for foxes, and learn more about wildflowers.
San Cristobal is the easternmost island of the Galapagos and one of the oldest. It has a wealth of human, geological, and genetic history, with a unique contrast among its habitats. Today we visited its most iconic sites, including Punta Pitt’s golden beach, which is made from volcanic material and is a resting site for sea lions. Its mountain is comprised of compact ash, known as tuff cones. This destination has a healthy colony of red-footed boobies, which are the least known in the archipelago, and we were surprised by the dance of blue-footed boobies and the beautiful great frigatebirds nesting near the trail. We also visited the western central coast of the island at Cerro Brujo, with one of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago, with soft, fine white sand. Our day culminated with a beautiful sunset at Kicker Rock.
Isabela Island accounts for over 50% of the total land mass of the Galapagos Archipelago. The island has five main active volcanoes, and every couple of years they present volcanic activity. Each volcano had developed its own kind of giant tortoise, from saddleback to dome-shaped carapaces. This interesting fact is what intrigues scientists and our National Geographic Gemini guests.
Our adventure on Santa Cruz Island began early in the morning with a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. We observed the different stages of the program, where the main attraction was the hatchling corrals. After our morning walk, we headed to the highlands to visit the ecological Trapiche Farm where me met Mr. Cabrera, heard his stories, met his family, and learned about all the sugarcane products that he harvests from the farm. Next, we went to the Manzanillo Tortoise Ranch, and after a delicious lunch we started our nature walk looking for the giants. We learned about their ecological roles, their migration routes, and why these creatures are so important for the islands. At night, we enjoyed a great performance by the Ecoarte group, local musicians and dancers that revealed more about the culture of the islands. It was a truly unforgettable day and we left Santa Cruz Island with a deeper appreciation for this remarkable ecosystem.
We spent the day on Floreana Island, one of the central islands of the Galapagos. In the morning, we visited the beautiful beach at Post Office Bay and explored the area further with a kayaking excursion. In the afternoon, we had an impressive snorkeling outing at Champion Islet. We also visited Cormorant Point, a great place where we observed sea turtles and a variety of seabirds, such as flamingoes and blue-footed boobies.
