Today was a magnificent day. It started just after daybreak with a climb of over 380 steps to the top of a tuff cone, a famous part of Bartholomew Island. We stopped at the beach after breakfast for a refreshing dip that hit the spot. Then we headed off to explore the deeper waters along the coast of the island. After our morning hike, we looked forward to two snorkeling opportunities and an outing in the glass-bottom boat. In the afternoon, we enjoyed deep-water snorkeling in the channel and Zodiac tours. We had three chances to get in the water with water temperatures around 80° F. What a great day.
2/20/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Chinese Hat
The Galapagos never ceases to amaze and today was no exception. We began our morning with a landing at Bartolome Island, where we climbed the iconic boardwalk to the summit. Along the way, we spotted lava lizards basking in the sun and took in the breathtaking views of Pinnacle Rock standing tall against the deep blue water. The highlight of the day came in the afternoon as we explored Chinese Hat, a small cinder cone with striking lava formations. A Zodiac exploration took us along the shoreline where we spotted three Galapagos penguins resting on the lava rocks. These unique seabirds, the only penguins found north of the equator, stood side by side, preening and occasionally glancing towards the water as if contemplating their next dive. Guests also enjoyed snorkeling in the turquoise waters where sea lions twisted playfully and whitetip reef sharks swam through the currents. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we reflected on another extraordinary day in one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet.
