Bartolomé and Chinese Hat Islands, 7/27/2023, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
We started our day by visiting the summit of Bartolomé Island and admiring the most iconic view of the Galapagos archipelago. After breakfast, we went to the golden beach of Bartolomé to swim and enjoy the warm water. Later on, some guests snorkeled from Zodiacs while others took the glass-bottom boat option to view the Galapagos marine life.
During the afternoon, we investigated the Chinese Hat area by snorkeling and on a Zodiac exploration of the coast.
Gilda was born in Ambato, located in the very heart of the Ecuadorian Andes. Since she was a child, she loved animals, often rescuing street cats and dogs. Her parents always made sure there were nature books and plenty of Jacques Cousteau’s videos a...
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Our day on Santa Cruz Island began with a visit to the renowned Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, where conservationists are working tirelessly to protect the future of the Galápagos giant tortoises. We observed tiny hatchlings, just months old, steadily making their way through enclosures designed to ensure their survival before being released into the wild. Seeing the various stages of growth—from juveniles to the impressive adult tortoises—gave us a deeper appreciation for the incredible conservation efforts that have helped recover populations once on the brink of extinction. In the afternoon, we ventured into the lush highlands, where we encountered these giants in their natural habitat. Among the misty foliage, we witnessed an extraordinary sight—a rare mating display. A massive male approached a female, stretching his neck and lifting his shell in a show of dominance. His deep, resonant bellows echoed through the forest, an unmistakable sign of courtship. The slow yet deliberate interaction was a reminder of the patience and resilience these creatures embody, having survived on these islands for millions of years. Santa Cruz’s highlands remain one of the best places to observe these magnificent creatures, and our experience today highlighted both their enduring presence and the efforts to ensure their survival for generations to come.
Early this morning we arrived at Santiago Island, and we had the chance to go to two different visitor sites. We started before breakfast with a relaxing stroll along the beach where we saw boobies and pelicans actively feeding. Later on, we went to Buccaneer Cove where we kayaked, snorkeled, and deployed the glass bottom boat. After lunch, we went ashore to visit Puerto Egas and had a great time snorkeling, walking, and kayaking along the coast. We had fun watching sea lions, finches, mockingbirds, shore birds, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. We enjoyed a lovely sunset to end our day.
Our day was full of excitement. We had a surprise for our guests today, keeping it a secret that we might find giant tortoises today. Their faces when we found these incredible reptiles were beyond description, filled with so much joy, surprise, and excitement. Isabela Island is unbelievable, with so many things to see and so many things to do. We had a lot of options, including kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, exploring by Zodiac, and hiking to an astonishing summit with an out-of-this-world view. We said goodbye to the western realm of the archipelago as we sailed away to our next destination.
