From a spectacular sunrise over Antarctic ice to a rare "green flash" sighting in California's Channel Islands National Park, the skies were especially beautiful this week.
Today was a wildlife fiesta. Along our forest walks in Curu we saw scarlet macaws (Ara macao), greater, white-lined bats (Saccopteryx bilineata), Central American agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata), white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus), howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), and banded owl butterflies (Caligo atreus). Curu is a multi-use sustainability development project that prioritizes forest protection, sustainable agriculture, and wildlife conservation. Clouds broke in the afternoon for a lovely beach excursion to Isla Tortuga where guests swam, drank rum coconuts, and observed charismatic collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu). It was difficult to leave the beach, but we had the world premiere of our Guest Slideshow to enjoy, prepared by our magnificent photo instructor, José Calvo. This week we were lucky enough to experience the tail-end of rainy season here in Costa Rica, a climactic rhythm that defines the beautiful biodiversity that drew us here to begin with. Thank you, rain, for all you make possible.
In the morning, we visited North Seymour Island where we enjoyed an unforgettable wildlife encounter. During our walk, we observed numerous great and magnificent frigatebirds nesting in the trees and shrubs, while blue-footed boobies nested on the ground. Along the trail, land iguanas roamed freely while feeding on cacti, completely unbothered by our presence and allowing our guests to observe them up close—a truly memorable experience. In the afternoon, we arrived at Rábida Island. From a distance, the island’s striking red color was visible, a result of the iron in the lava oxidized by the salty water. At Rábida, we offered snorkeling from the beach. Playful sea lions swam close to us, almost inviting us to join their games, and in deeper waters, colorful fish captivated our guests. After snorkeling, we returned on board and later headed back to the beach at 5 PM. Just a few steps from the landing site, we encountered many flamingos walking gracefully near us in a lagoon that has been their habitat for years. It was fascinating to watch them feed on small crustaceans while listening to their distinctive calls. Just before sunset, we returned to National Geographic Endeavour II feeling a little tired but thrilled after experiencing such a magnificent day in the Galápagos Islands.
This morning, we entered the Weddell Sea after exploring the western side of the peninsula for the past few days. The icy scenery was enjoyed by all. As we ship-cruised in the morning, the expedition staff provided us with some insightful presentations on glaciers and marine mammal acoustics. The hotel department then surprised us all with a BBQ feast for lunch and some delicious donuts for dessert. The afternoon activities included a landing at Brown Bluff where we enjoyed observing the Adelie penguin colony. We then returned to National Geographic Resolution and began sailing deeper south into the Weddell Sea.
National Geographic Endurance journeyed south through the Gerlache Strait today, braving heavy winds and waves that shattered against towering icebergs. The raw power of Antarctica was on full display this morning. By afternoon, we reached the more tranquil expanse of Wilhelmina Bay, where sea ice stretched to the base of the surrounding peaks. The conditions shifted, and while the wind remained strong, the skies cleared revealing a stunning sunlit landscape. On snowshoes and cross-country skis, we explored the frozen expanse, much like the early explorers. Although, they were clad in reindeer skin, wooden skis, and sledges and we have high-tech gear and iPhones. Were they enchanted by its beauty, or humbled by the pristine vastness of the Antarctic Peninsula? After our vigilant (but decidedly comfortable) snow adventure, we returned to the ship for yet another gourmet meal and a soak in the hot tub. Not exactly roughing it by any stretch. This place is magical, and skiing across a frozen ocean with the backdrop of Antarctic mountains is enough to humble anyone.
Genovesa is one of the most incredible islands in the Galapagos, and today we visited it! This island offers sightings of the largest breeding colony of red-footed boobies and also Nazca boobies. As we walked along the trail, we observed countless juvenile frigatebirds, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, lava gulls, sea lions, and so much more. This is a short trail, but it’s packed with wildlife. Later in the morning we went for our last snorkeling of the expedition in the beautiful wall of Genovesa, where plenty of colorful fish can be found. The afternoon brought the option for hiking a very unique place: Prince Philip’s Steps. This area is not only full of different species of boobies, but it also offers the opportunity to spot an interesting bird: the short-eared owl. This bird is usually nocturnal, but the lack of another main predator in Genovesa offers the owl this ecological niche.
