Guests onboard National Geographic Endeavour II spent the day exploring Santiago Island. We started the day with an early morning walk at Espumilla Beach. Photography enthusiasts spent the morning with our photo instructor Cristian Saa. There were blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans diving at the shoreline, making for some amazing action shots. We observed many green sea turtle nests and even female tracks. After breakfast, guests disembarked for various marine activities in Buccaneers Cove, including kayaking, glass-bottom boating and snorkeling. We observed many colorful tropical fishes, sea lions, white tip reef sharks, golden cownose rays, and a school of spotted eagle rays. Guests also enjoyed entering some of the caves located in the cove.
After lunch, we disembarked to Puerto Egas, a beautiful beach where we encountered juvenile sea lions and shore birds. We hiked along the coastline observing pelicans, American oystercatchers, willets, and marine iguanas. Naturalists were thrilled to encounter the recently repatriated land iguanas at this site and even a freshly dug den. A large Galapagos shark was spotted hunting around dusk in a shallow bay, thrashing around in a spectacular show.
In the evening, guests enjoyed a special barbeque dinner followed by a musical performance by our captain and the ship physician.
