It was a great day of exploration in this fascinating archipelago. We visited the northern side of Santa Cruz. We could clearly notice the difference between the opposite sides of the island. In the morning, we explored the inland area, where Galapagos land iguanas can be found in a dry forest. We found more than a dozen of these beautiful reptiles. For the afternoon, we navigated to Borrero Bay where we could choose to explore the coastline by paddleboards, kayaks or on a Zodiac. We finished our day circumnavigating Daphne Major and then sailed into the sunset towards tomorrow’s destination.
6/12/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolomé and Sombrero Chino Islands
Warm ocean air and a colorful sunrise met us as we approached Bartolomé. Guests traveled by foot or Zodiac to experience the compacted ash landscape. On our first snorkeling excursion, we swam with diving penguins and sea creatures like whitetip and blacktip sharks, rays, and parrotfish. On the next snorkeling opportunity, we enjoyed seeing even more fish and sea stars! After lunch, we were back on the Zodiac for a third snorkeling opportunity. We dove in by Sombrero Chino. We spotted whitetip sharks, a school of fish, sea lions, pufferfish, and more. We ended the day by circumnavigating Sombrero Chino on Zodiac. We spotted more penguins. The community spirit that has developed over the week was evident as a Zodiac of guests serenaded Sarah on her birthday! Traveling to the Galapagos has made the world feel small. We have found common ground with guests and staff and made connections between our actions back home and the conservation of this beautiful archipelago. Written by Sarah Magnano and Robin Lockwood, Grosvenor Teacher Fellows
