Today's activities started in the best way: a morning hike on Dragon Hill! This unique place is located in the north part of Santa Cruz Island. Due to the rainy season, this typically dry forest showed us a very rare and temporary greenish hue all over the landscape. Thanks to this, we were able to enjoy dozens of Galapagos land iguanas sunbathing, fighting and eating. After the typical and tasty Ecuadorian Lunch, we enjoyed a quick talk with the National Geographic photographer Todd Gipstein, sharing with us his techniques for shooting photos in the islands. Then, it was time for kayaking, paddle boarding and a Zodiac riding, according to our guests’ preferences. And to finish this great day, we had a wine tasting with a very prominent rainbow over the mystical Daphne, lure of the contemporary evolution basis thanks to the experts biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant and their Darwin Finches. Another day in paradise!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 30 Jan 2019
Santa Cruz Island, 1/30/2019, National Geographic Endeavour II
- Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
- Galápagos
Lucas Bustamante, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
On his travels, Lucas Bustamante has lived with indigenous Amazonian tribes, dived with whale sharks, been bitten by countless snakes and chased by elephants. Growing up around the Ecuadorian outdoors—and the country’s incredible biodiversity—he beca...
Read More
Steve Ewing, Videographer
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Steve fell in love with the beauty of the natural world at an early age. In addition to nature, his other main passion was telling stories though the medium of television and radio. Steve studied broadcast jo...
Read MoreShare Report
Exploring Galápagos
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
6/13/2025
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Genovesa Island
We started the day with excitement as we landed on the beautiful, pristine coast of Isla Genovesa - a true birder’s dream. Along the sandy beaches and steep cliffs of Darwin Bay, we were surrounded by an incredible array of birdlife. Frigatebirds soared closely overhead with their red pouches on full display, while Nazca and blue-footed boobies nested along the rocky ledges. Swallow-tailed gulls called out as we walked past. In the distance, we saw the stoic and elusive short-eared owl. The island was alive with color, sound, and constant movement. Between our excursions to Isla Genovesa, we snorkeled near Prince Philip’s Steps and discovered a vibrant world beneath the waves. Schools of fish swirled around us, a fur seal turned in the water as if dancing on cue, and sea lions relaxed nearby. As our last snorkeling adventure came to a close, we spotted a sea turtle resting calmly in a crevice. As the sun retreated into the sky on our last return to National Geographic Endeavor II, we reflected on the sheer magnitude of what we witnessed on our last full day. Isla Genovesa, like the other islands, gave us a connection to a sacred world. The harmony between land, sea, and sky reminded us how deeply interconnected, vital, and fragile these ecosystems are. Watching birds tend to their nests and marine life swim effortlessly, we were struck by how little space there is between wonder and reverence. We recognized that our journey wasn’t just about observing unique wildlife, it was about feeling part of something grander and beautifully ancient.
6/12/2025
Read
National Geographic Gemini
Genovesa Island
Sadly, our expedition aboard National Geographic Gemini is nearing its end. Our day began with a hike at the base of towering cliffs. A steep ascent led us to a plateau of a palo santo forest, sparse and otherworldly. Almost immediately, we were surrounded by red-footed boobies nesting in low trees and Nazca boobies on the ground. A highlight was spotting a short-eared owl perched silently among a lava crevice, camouflaged and hunting storm petrels. The calls of frigatebirds rang in the air, with their inflated red pouches on full display in a mating show. After our hike we enjoyed water activities, such as kayaking along the cliffs and snorkeling. In the late afternoon, we landed on the coral sand beach of Darwin Bay. Guests enjoyed a relaxing stroll along the shoreline bordered by mangroves and nesting bird colonies. The presence of swallow-tailed gulls, lava herons, and marine iguanas provided excellent photo opportunities.