Today, we had our last day of expedition on board National Geographic Endeavour II. We started the day by visiting Punta Pitt. We landed on a green sand beach. The presence of a semiprecious stone in the sand makes this place shine like it is covered in diamonds. We hiked along a trail and spotted red-footed boobies, San Cristobal lava lizards, and many other creatures. It was an amazing hike.
4/9/2025
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National Geographic Gemini
Isabela Island
After breakfast, we boarded our kayaks and gently paddled the calm waters of Elizabeth Bay. As we glided through the mangrove channels, we were greeted by the sight of numerous green sea turtles swimming peacefully near us. We also spotted several juvenile blacktip reef sharks cruising through the shallow waters. The presence of golden rays added to the magical ambiance of the bay. At 2:00 p.m., we began our first afternoon outing with a snorkeling session along Punta Moreno. The underwater scenery was simply spectacular. We encountered more green sea turtles, and Galápagos sea lions added a playful element to the experience. The highlight for many was witnessing penguins swimming at remarkable speeds as they hunted small salemas. Later, we returned to shore to walk across a vast and striking lava field — a reminder of the islands’ volcanic origins. However, amid this seemingly barren landscape, we discovered true oases: brackish lagoons where several flamingos were wading gracefully through these pools, feeding on small crustaceans. As we neared the end of our walk, we had one last surprise — encounters with Galápagos penguins and the iconic flightless cormorants.
