We are in the last days of our expedition aboard National Geographic Endeavour II. Early in the morning, we made our way to Bartolome’s summit, one of the jewels of this archipelago. Later, guests enjoyed the island’s gold sand beach and snorkeled along the shore. They enjoyed unique moments with many animals, including sea lions and penguins. In the afternoon, we changed locations to Chinese Hat, where we enjoyed another amazing snorkel. We had a great time exploring the shores of the island.
11/7/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Santa Cruz Island
Puerto Ayora and Santa Cruz Island were a surprise for many as we encountered the human aspect of the Galapagos Archipelago. This being the second largest island, it was also the last to be colonized by humans and it has a unique aspect of interaction among the species found here. A visit to the Charles Darwin Station, with its giant tortoises reared in captivity, showed us the role of conservation efforts and how they’ve been able to recuperate populations. This represents a model where protection and restoration have a very positive effect. Heading to the highlands, all are able to interact with the local residents, learning about an integrated educational system in a school in the middle of nature. Local families farming higher on Santa Cruz allowed us insight into the aspect of local production of food in a responsible way. The afternoon brought us back to interact with the giant tortoises, surrounding us at every turn as they move along their yearly migratory route.