Santiago Island, 4/5/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Visited by Naturalist Charles Darwin in 1835, Santiago has all the attributes of a great place for nature expedition, including a large, active volcano, stunning landscapes, and wonderful wildlife. We kayaked, explored by Zodiac, snorkeled, and hiked. These activities and visits to different sites on the island offered our guests the best nature has to offer.
Many animals live along the rocky shores and beneath the waves. Guests can observe and photograph them without much difficulty. Today was the end of a great expedition in this remote archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. We will take home stunning memories of this unique place to remember forever.
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Our day on Santa Cruz Island began with a visit to the renowned Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, where conservationists are working tirelessly to protect the future of the Galápagos giant tortoises. We observed tiny hatchlings, just months old, steadily making their way through enclosures designed to ensure their survival before being released into the wild. Seeing the various stages of growth—from juveniles to the impressive adult tortoises—gave us a deeper appreciation for the incredible conservation efforts that have helped recover populations once on the brink of extinction. In the afternoon, we ventured into the lush highlands, where we encountered these giants in their natural habitat. Among the misty foliage, we witnessed an extraordinary sight—a rare mating display. A massive male approached a female, stretching his neck and lifting his shell in a show of dominance. His deep, resonant bellows echoed through the forest, an unmistakable sign of courtship. The slow yet deliberate interaction was a reminder of the patience and resilience these creatures embody, having survived on these islands for millions of years. Santa Cruz’s highlands remain one of the best places to observe these magnificent creatures, and our experience today highlighted both their enduring presence and the efforts to ensure their survival for generations to come.
Early this morning we arrived at Santiago Island, and we had the chance to go to two different visitor sites. We started before breakfast with a relaxing stroll along the beach where we saw boobies and pelicans actively feeding. Later on, we went to Buccaneer Cove where we kayaked, snorkeled, and deployed the glass bottom boat. After lunch, we went ashore to visit Puerto Egas and had a great time snorkeling, walking, and kayaking along the coast. We had fun watching sea lions, finches, mockingbirds, shore birds, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. We enjoyed a lovely sunset to end our day.
Our day was full of excitement. We had a surprise for our guests today, keeping it a secret that we might find giant tortoises today. Their faces when we found these incredible reptiles were beyond description, filled with so much joy, surprise, and excitement. Isabela Island is unbelievable, with so many things to see and so many things to do. We had a lot of options, including kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, exploring by Zodiac, and hiking to an astonishing summit with an out-of-this-world view. We said goodbye to the western realm of the archipelago as we sailed away to our next destination.
