We are halfway through our expedition around the Galapagos Islands aboard National Geographic Endeavour II. We started our day with an early walk on Espumilla Beach, an important nesting site for Pacific green sea turtles. Afterwards, the ship changed location to Buccaneer Cove. Pirates and whalers visited this site. Guests enjoyed water activities like kayaking, tours in the glass-bottom boat, and snorkeling with mantas. In the afternoon, we took a walk on the shores of Puerto Egas and spent time on the beach. Today was another great day spent on these amazing islands.
2/20/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Chinese Hat
The Galapagos never ceases to amaze and today was no exception. We began our morning with a landing at Bartolome Island, where we climbed the iconic boardwalk to the summit. Along the way, we spotted lava lizards basking in the sun and took in the breathtaking views of Pinnacle Rock standing tall against the deep blue water. The highlight of the day came in the afternoon as we explored Chinese Hat, a small cinder cone with striking lava formations. A Zodiac exploration took us along the shoreline where we spotted three Galapagos penguins resting on the lava rocks. These unique seabirds, the only penguins found north of the equator, stood side by side, preening and occasionally glancing towards the water as if contemplating their next dive. Guests also enjoyed snorkeling in the turquoise waters where sea lions twisted playfully and whitetip reef sharks swam through the currents. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we reflected on another extraordinary day in one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet.
