Today we visited Santiago Island. The morning was spent at the historical site, Buccaneer’s Cove. The incredible landscape and its rich and clear waters brought us back to the time when whalers were common in the Archipelago. It was amazing to take the Zodiacs and explore the coast. Simultaneously, eager kayakers were taking advantage of the current along the coast. Snorkeling was fantastic today, with large schools of colorful fish, sharks, Galapagos sea lions, and even a manta ray. In the afternoon, we hiked at Puerto Egas, the last opportunity to encounter the ecologically naïve animals of the Galapagos. What a fantastic week we enjoyed in paradise!
10/4/2024
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Genovesa Island
With coffee in hand, I stepped out onto the front balcony of the lounge to see what was going on. We had just entered Darwin’s Bay, dropped anchor, and the juvenile red-footed boobies had found the ship and were flying around us on an inspection tour. The rest of the day continued with discoveries of all kinds. An early morning inversion layer (locally known as “garúa”) had fallen and dampened the environment with much desired drops of fresh water, although the chicks of various species didn’t appear terribly pleased in having wet feathers. On our return, the same bedraggled individuals looked smooth, sleek and dry once the sun had come out. The Galapagos National Park has only two sites for visitors, both spectacular, both well worth a slow walk among the palo santo trees to see the great frigatebirds, red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, Galapagos doves, Darwin’s finches, short-eared owls, and storm petrels. Snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding along the base of the cliffs of Darwin’s Bay followed. There’s nothing quite like this island anywhere in the world.