Today we spent the whole day at the southern part of Santa Cruz Island. This inhabited Island has a lot to offer. Our guests learned a lot at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, where we witnessed the most successful program run by the Galapagos National Park. We went to the highlands to pay a visit to a local farm, where the owner, Rommer Ochoa, gave a tour and explained all about his hydroponic lettuces and Arabica coffee plants. The afternoon was spent looking for giant tortoises in the wild. What a fantastic day in paradise!
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.
