As we were leaving for our first outing of the day, we enjoyed the early morning light. A short Zodiac ride took us to the landing site from which we could appreciate the volcanic landscape with the famous Pinnacle Rock and James Volcano in the background. Climbing more than three hundred steps to the top can be a fun experience as we are surrounded by volcanic cones. That is why Bartholomew Island is well known as the moonscape of the Galapagos Islands.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 07 Mar 2024
Bartholomew Island and Sombrero Chino Islet, 3/7/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
- Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
- Galápagos
Sabina Estupiñan, Naturalist
Sabina is a biologist and a naturalist guide with the Galapagos National Park Service. She was born in the northwest of Esmeraldas, the “green province” of Ecuador located on the northern coast of the country but has been a resident of the Enchanted ...
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5/7/2025
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Santiago Island
We began our day with a very active snorkeling excursion, where some of our snorkelers saw several whitetip reef sharks, a few sea lions, and fish of all kinds. We also kayaked and went paddleboarding. The geological formations are impressive here, such as the world-famous praying monk that captured our attention while on a Zodiac ride. If that wasn’t enough, we had a few rounds of glass bottom boat rides, a fabulous tool that allows us to have a clear view of the fish, and especially those sharks. Soon after lunch, we had an adventurous wet landing on Puerto Egas, with its black sandy beach that we had all to ourselves. We walked along the shore and intertidal pools of Santiago with sightings of marine iguanas, sea lions, shore birds, and Galapagos fur seals. After cocktail hour and a fun recap, we enjoyed a barbeque dinner on the top deck.
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Isabela Island
Isabela is the largest island in Galapagos and today we had the opportunity to explore Elizabeth Bay and Punta Moreno. These two visitor sites are very close but very different from one another. Elizabeth Bay is covered with black lava and a mangrove forest, which becomes a perfect shelter for many species. The bay is home to flamingos, brown pelicans, and white-cheeked pintail ducks. This combination is a good reflection of the colonization of flora and fauna of the Galapagos.