Today National Geographic Endeavour II explored Santiago Island; this place is heaven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. We started the day with a pre-breakfast hike along Espumilla beach. One group of guests went kayaking along the coast looking for sea lions, sea turtles, and blue-footed boobies. Later in the morning we offered our first round of glass-bottom boating, with more kayaking and Zodiac rides to explore the coast of Buccaneer Cove. Then we headed back to the ship to get ready for snorkeling and exploring the underwater world of Buccaneer Cove. To finish the day’s activities we had the option to return to the beach for some afternoon fun, including a sunset hike among the wildlife and amazing landscapes.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 16 Aug 2023
Santiago Island, 8/16/2023, National Geographic Endeavour II
- Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
- Galápagos
Ixora Berdonces, Naturalist
Ixora was born in the Galapagos Islands, back when the streets were made of sand and gravel. Void of TV and tablets, her childhood friends and pristine natural surroundings made for an inspiring upbringing. She was always drawn to the ocean and her l...
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Santiago Island
We began our day with a very active snorkeling excursion, where some of our snorkelers saw several whitetip reef sharks, a few sea lions, and fish of all kinds. We also kayaked and went paddleboarding. The geological formations are impressive here, such as the world-famous praying monk that captured our attention while on a Zodiac ride. If that wasn’t enough, we had a few rounds of glass bottom boat rides, a fabulous tool that allows us to have a clear view of the fish, and especially those sharks. Soon after lunch, we had an adventurous wet landing on Puerto Egas, with its black sandy beach that we had all to ourselves. We walked along the shore and intertidal pools of Santiago with sightings of marine iguanas, sea lions, shore birds, and Galapagos fur seals. After cocktail hour and a fun recap, we enjoyed a barbeque dinner on the top deck.
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