Our last day was dedicated primarily to snorkeling. A short walk on a red sand beach, some flamboyant flamingos in the lagoon, and in the water, we went – twice! The warm, wet season lived up to its expectations, so everyone happily entered the water. Sharks were the stars of the day, as we saw three species. However, the best in show were the Galapagos penguins, though the other marine creatures stood out in their own right.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 21 Mar 2025
Rabida Island and Sombrero Chino, 3/21/2025, National Geographic Delfina
- Aboard the National Geographic Delfina
- Galápagos
Cindy Manning, Expedition Leader
Cindy was raised in a family that was fortunate enough to live in many different countries across the globe. During her formative years, she counted Latin America and Europe as home, with periods in-between living in Illinois and Indiana, where she a...
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Galápagos by Catamaran: An Intimate Voyage
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6/26/2025
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National Geographic Delfina
Santa Cruz Island
Today we anchored in Academy Bay on Santa Cruz Island. During the first part of the morning, we went to Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoises Breeding Center. This is where some species of giant tortoises are bred in captivity. After walking through the center and observing young and adult tortoises, we enjoyed exploring the largest town in Galapagos. We had lunch at a charming local restaurant, and from there we went to the highlands where we had a great time observing wild giant tortoises in their natural habitat. This afternoon we found several tortoises feeding, while others were enjoying a great volcanic mud bath.
6/25/2025
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National Geographic Delfina
Isabela Island
We spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon exploring Sierra Negra, specifically the sulfur mine area in the southwestern corner inside the caldera. The caldera is considered one of the largest in the world. It was an adventurous ride up the flank of the volcano in a local chiva (open-sided bus used all over Ecuador in rural areas). Then we walked, one way two kilometers, which included a descent of 320 feet, then an ascent to the sulfur fumaroles of another 200 feet. On return, we did it all again!