Santiago Island, 7/17/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
We had an amazing day exploring Santiago Island and the fearless behavior of the Galapagos wildlife continues to make a significant impact on our guests. We had an incredible encounter with a juvenile Galapagos hawk just a few feet from us. It was completely unbothered by our curiosity. Sea lions walking around us and even sleeping Galapagos fur seals were equally unaffected by the group.
We are definitely exploring a magical place like no other.
Cristian was born and raised on Santa Cruz Island, at the heart of the Galapagos Archipelago. He had the privilege of enjoying the beauty of the natural world of Galapagos every weekend, sailing in his family's small fishing boat. His parents passed ...
Today, our adventure began on North Seymour, where guests took their first hike on Galápagos soil. We watched blue-footed boobies performing their quirky courtship dance, their bright feet a striking contrast against the rocky landscape. Along the trail, we spotted both species of frigatebirds – the magnificent and the great frigatebird. We learned to tell them apart by their size, the color of their throat pouches, and flight patterns. Land iguanas lounged nearby with their golden scales blending into the dry terrain. In the afternoon, we reached Rábida, known for its red sands and stunning views. Here, our guests took their first snorkeling plunge, swimming alongside playful sea lions, colorful parrotfish, and the graceful silhouette of a sea turtle. Before heading back, we visited a small lagoon, where a few flamingos stood quietly, their pink feathers reflected in the still waters – a fitting end to an unforgettable day.
Today’s expedition took us to one of the most unique geological landscapes in the Galapagos Archipelago. We started with a walking exploration at Sullivan Bay, where we observed a relatively recent lava field formation from 1897: a vast field of pahoehoe lava stretching several kilometers along the east coast of Santiago Island. In the later morning, we spotted a feeding frenzy of blue-footed boobies and Galapagos penguins along the coastline. In the afternoon, we hiked to the summit of Bartolome Island. The presence of spatter cones flanking the island invited us to think about the geological genesis of the Galapagos Islands. As we were descending to the landing site, a dominant male sea lion was resting by the pier where our Zodiac drivers were expecting our arrival. At the end of the day we gathered in the observation deck of National Geographic Gemini to celebrate our successful week of exploration, while we commented on the importance of preserving the beautiful Galapagos Archipelago for future generations to come.
We started our day with a very relaxing stroll in the morning at Darwin’s Bay. Kayaking and snorkeling followed at the cove. In the afternoon, we celebrated the end of a beautiful week on board with a visit to Prince Philip’s steps, where we relaxed with a smooth hike and checked on waders and fur sea lions.
