Today we explored the northern side of Santa Cruz Island. In the morning we hiked inland to Dragon Hill, a place known for the dragon-like reptiles in the zone, the Galapagos land iguana. We disembarked on the rocky shore, walked along the beach towards a brackish water lagoon to finally reach the hill, where observed these remarkable land iguanas in their natural habitat. In the afternoon we navigated to Borrero Bay for kayaking and paddleboarding while surrounded by mangroves and rocky shores. What an adventure we had today.
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.
