Expedition Stories

Our fleet navigates the world in search of adventure. These are the stories they bring back…

World View

3/20/2020

1 Min Read

Smart Fun in Magdalena Bay with Mika

Hi! I’m Mika (that’s pronounced M-eee-ka!) and I‘m 9 years old. A few months ago, my parents and I had the chance to visit a beautiful and wild place called Baja. We saw so many amazing things like whales breaching, dolphins playing in the water around our ship, and a sky filled with hundreds of sparkling stars. I wanted to share some of them with you along with the photos my dad took of me on our trip. I hope you enjoy my photo diary!

World View

12/11/2020

4 Min Read

Surprising Desert Isles in the Gulf of California

The Gulf of California is teeming with 900-some species of fish and a third of the earth’s marine mammal species. As you approach untouched desert islands, a world of endemic flora and fauna awaits you as you hike through colorful arroyos on protected land.

Showing 12 of 12

Daily Expedition Reports

Follow Along

Daily Expedition Reports

1/29/2025

Read

National Geographic Resolution

Garibaldi Glacier and the Cordillera Darwin, Patagonia

This morning, we woke up with National Geographic Resolution sailing through a fjord. With trees, ice, and waterfalls surrounding us, it was truly a magnificent sight to behold.   Our first day here in Patagonia will be spent taking our Zodiacs further up these fjords to see the glaciers that have carved out the splendid mountains that surround us. Coming from Antarctica, this was a whole new world. Today we have seen several species of birds and even some South American sea lions.   After lunch, we deployed our kayaks to get an even more intimate look at this breathtaking landscape. It was an awesome first day here in Patagonia.

Daily Expedition Reports

1/29/2025

Read

National Geographic Quest

Caletas and Agujitas Rivers

Today onboard National Geographic Quest, we arrived in one of the most remote areas of Costa Rica which has a rich biodiversity, Drake Bay.   On the first outing, we offered different walks on private property owned by Costa Ricans, and they had trails in the primary rainforest for our guests to enjoy. For those who wanted to walk a little bit more, we offered a coastal walk and finished in the town of Drake.   During the coastal hike, we saw the Central American spider-monkey, white-throated capuchin monkey, and different species of birds. The landscape along the coast was outstanding as the waves broke on the rocks and the sounds relaxed our guests.   After the walk, we returned to the ship for lunch and then went for another outing on a Zodiac excursion up the Agujitas River where we saw a yellow-crowned night heron, a solo male capuchin monkey, and a show in the rainforest canopy.

Daily Expedition Reports

1/29/2025

Read

National Geographic Endeavour II

Santiago Island

We started early in the morning with kayaking and paddleboarding excursions along the coast in the western region of Santiago Island at Caleta Bucanero. Later, some of us went for snorkeling and a glass bottom boat ride, too. We had a chance to enjoy the beauty of the sea with lots of Galapagos sharks, sea lions, and many colorful fish.   After lunch, we navigated towards Puerto Egas where we offered our guests a couple of options- to spend the afternoon at the beach, or take a nature walk along the coast, and both options were fantastic. We found lots of marine and land iguanas, sea lions, and migratory birds.   Today we visited an island like no other which is very rich in human history and also happens to be the last visited by Charles Darwin on his famous Voyage of the Beagle. Today was outstanding!

Daily Expedition Reports

1/29/2025

Read

National Geographic Endurance

Cuverville Island and Neko Harbor, Antarctic Peninsula

The day began as National Geographic Endurance slipped into the scenic Errera Channel. As operations began, the guests could choose from a variety of exciting options including kayaking or heading to land to enjoy a gentoo penguin colony. Some even enjoyed the tranquility of a Zodiac cruise through massive icebergs and feeding humpback whales.   In the afternoon, the ship repositioned to Neko Harbor. For the last operation of the trip there was another chance for a continental landing or Zodiac cruises through the brash ice and seals. As the day ended, the ship moved out of the protected waters of the Antarctic Peninsula and began the adventure of the Drake Passage. What a day!

Daily Expedition Reports

1/28/2025

Read

National Geographic Venture

Bahia Almejas and Sand Dollar Beach

We started our day with a gorgeous sunrise at Bahia Almejas, the southernmost area of Bahia Magdalena Lagoon. On our way looking for gray whales, we sailed with local “pangueros” who are the permit holders for this activity.   First, we visited Margarita Island where hundreds of birds nest in the mangroves. Once in the lagoon, we witnessed different whale behaviors, including swimming alongside our pangas, spy-hopping, and breaching. What a sight to see!   After returning to National Geographic Venture , we repositioned to visit Sand Dollar Beach on Magdalena Island where we found lots of treasures on our walk towards the Pacific. From blooming shore plants to middens left behind by the original nations that inhabited the peninsula, there was plenty to observe.   The perfect ending to this wonderful day was our delicious Mexican fiesta dinner aboard.