Today we encountered civilization for the first time in many days. It is great to learn about the conservation efforts in place to preserve this unique archipelago, and the best example is my home island, Santa Cruz. We visited the giant tortoise breeding center in the morning. Our guests enjoyed seeing the baby giant tortoises from different islands. Afterwards there was time to wander around the cozy town of Puerto Ayora. We boarded buses at the meeting point and headed towards the highlands. An amazing visit to a local farm was included, where we observed the cultivation and processing of brown sugar, coffee and sugar cane alcohol. The afternoon was spent at a giant tortoise natural reserve. It is amazing to walk among the emblematic animals of the archipelago, which gave the name to the islands—Galapagos means tortoise.
There is magic in every single visit, Galapagos is an unforgettable experience!
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