Dynjandi, Iceland
A Circumnavigation of Iceland, July 5, 2023
As we strolled through the beauty of this stunning glacial fjord, the famous falls of Dynjandi were initially out of sight. As we ambled eastward, the towering curtains of cascading water came into view, and oooooohs and ahhhhhs were audible as the great waterfall stood tall before us. —Jackie Weston, Naturalist (Photo by Jose Calvo)
Yarapa River, Peru
Upper Amazon Aboard the Delfin II, July 6, 2023
Red-faced uakari monkeys groom each other. —Carlos Romero, Expedition Leader
Djúpivogur, Iceland
A Circumnavigation of Iceland, July 6, 2023
Nature lovers walked out of town to a beach area that was once distinct offshore islands. We enjoyed breathing in the crisp ocean air while walking through delicate arctic flora on our way down to the black basalt sand that now connects the islands. —Birna Imsland, Cultural Specialist (Photo by Linda Burback)
Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos
Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, July 6, 2023
Only at the giant tortoise breeding center are we able to see saddleback giant tortoises. This type of tortoise evolved in the very arid islands of the archipelago. To survive here, tortoises changed over time to have longer legs and longer necks. —Vanessa Gallo, Naturalist
Siglufjörður, Iceland
A Circumnavigation of Iceland, July 7, 2023
The morning began by entering the beautiful Siglufjörður. The tips of the mountains were covered by a fog, and there was a light sprinkling of rain, making for a very beautiful start to the day. —Alyssa Stoller, Naturalist
Northeast Iceland
A Circumnavigation of Iceland, July 8, 2023
During our hike, an Arctic tern lands on the sign pointing our way towards the Arctic Circle. —Alyssa Stoller, Naturalist (Photo by Jose Calvo)
Ísafjörður, Iceland
A Circumnavigation of Iceland, July 9, 2023
As we pulled into the bustling port in Isafjordur, the first group set off for the bike tour. The spectacular scenery did not disappoint as we peddled through fields of blooming purple lupine. The scent of flowers and the sound of cliffside waterfalls made for a truly sensory experience. We rode through tunnels and around fallen boulders from landslides along the seaside cliffs until we arrived at the Heritage Museum where we learned about the age-old tradition of shark fishing in the waters between Iceland and Greenland. —Ayla Townsend, Undersea Specialist
Inian Islands, Alaska
Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness, July 11, 2023
The Inians are truly a magical place. As we approached the islands this afternoon, we found humpback whales. Everywhere. More than a dozen whales, feeding and fluking all around us, were visible as we approached our anchorage, the Hobbit Hole. With the humpbacks around us, we eagerly boarded Zodiacs for a water-level view of the feeding frenzy. We Zodiac cruised, following the whales as they dove for fish. Calves played at the surface as moms hunted, and a couple whales burst forth from the ocean and breached, showing off their incredible power and size. —Ben Shulman, Naturalist