The last day of our expedition brought us to Santiago Island; here Charles Darwin spent nine days on land walking and exploring, and we were following his footsteps. In the morning, we visited the beautiful beach of Espumilla. An easy stroll along the mangroves and soft sand was offered before breakfast. We observed blue-footed boobies diving and Galapagos hawks. Afterwards, we enjoyed kayaking at Buccaneer’s Cove with great weather conditions: the sea was smooth, and the water was crystal clear. It was a great opportunity for deep water snorkeling with colorful fish and huge schools of sardines and black striped salemas. The afternoon brought us to Puerto Egas, a great place to enjoy time at the black, sandy beach. We also offered an optional amazing hike along the coastal area. We became amazed explorers, as Galapagos is a learning experience!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 07 Jul 2022
Santiago Island, 7/7/2022, National Geographic Islander
- Aboard the National Geographic Islander
- Galápagos
Vanessa Gallo, Naturalist
Vanessa Gallo’s grandparents arrived in the Galápagos Islands in 1936, making her the third generation of her family to live and work in this magical archipelago. She left the islands for the capital city of Quito for high school, where she discovere...
Read MoreShare Report
Galápagos Escape: An 8-Day Voyage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/1/2025
Read
National Geographic Islander II
South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands
Our expedition onboard National Geographic Islander II took us to the captivating South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands where we were treated to an extraordinary day of wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and a deeper understanding of the islands’ unique ecosystems.
4/29/2025
Read
National Geographic Islander II
San Cristobal Island
San Cristobal is the easternmost island of the Galapagos and one of the oldest. It has a wealth of human, geological, and genetic history, with a unique contrast among its habitats. Today we visited its most iconic sites, including Punta Pitt’s golden beach, which is made from volcanic material and is a resting site for sea lions. Its mountain is comprised of compact ash, known as tuff cones. This destination has a healthy colony of red-footed boobies, which are the least known in the archipelago, and we were surprised by the dance of blue-footed boobies and the beautiful great frigatebirds nesting near the trail. We also visited the western central coast of the island at Cerro Brujo, with one of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago, with soft, fine white sand. Our day culminated with a beautiful sunset at Kicker Rock.