Our day began with a hike in Urbina Bay, where we observed giant tortoises and land iguanas. Returning to the ship, we experienced the mysterious mist that gave this archipelago the nickname, the Enchanted, or Bewitched, Islands. After a presentation by National Geographic photographer Massimo Bassano, we enjoyed a fantastic Ecuadorian lunch. In the afternoon, we enjoyed seeing wildlife on kayaks and paddleboards and with our snorkeling gear. We ended the day on an amazing note with a hike to the top rim of Darwin Lake for a dramatic view of volcanic cones, plus a Zodiac ride to see the famous Galapagos penguins and a beautiful sunset.
4/30/2025
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National Geographic Gemini
Santa Cruz Island
Early in the morning we awoke to the view of green palo santo trees marching up the hill from Santa Cruz and Baltra Islands. After breakfast we took buses to go on an exploration of the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center in Puerto Ayora. At the breeding center, we spotted several species of giant tortoises and learned about the projects currently happening to restore the dynasty of these giant endemic reptiles of the Galapagos. Later, we enjoyed lunch at a waterfront restaurant and continued our exploration in the highlands of Santa Cruz to visit the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. We spotted several male tortoises and a few females. We had great opportunities for photography at this location. After the visit to the giant tortoise ranch known as El Manzanillo, we ventured to an area with twin pit craters and then made our way back to National Geographic Gemini for evening recap.
