Today’s expedition was definetly a dolphin-y day! Our morning began at Urbina Bay, where we stepped onto a rugged shoreline that rose dramatically from the sea during an uplift event in 1954. We had an amazing morning watching tortoises and iguanas. As we navigated towards Tagus Cove, we spotted bottlenose dolphins cutting through the waves with effortless grace. Dolphins play an important ecological role in marine environments. As apex predators, they help regulate fish populations and indicate the health of the ocean. Their presence today was not only a visual treat but a reassuring sign of thriving marine life around Isabela Island.
6/6/2025
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National Geographic Delfina
Santa Cruz Island
Today was our last full day of our expedition and we visited the central island of Santa Cruz. We started with a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center where we learned about the Charles Darwin Station’s work in conservation and the history of their activities in the Galápagos. Here, we learned about the famous Lonesome George and many other conservation projects. After a walk around town and a delicious lunch in a local restaurant, we headed to the highlands to visit the giant tortoises in the wild. We wore rubber boots and explored the forest. Afterwards, we visited a local farm to learn the ways of the people of the Galápagos. We tried delicious sugarcane juice and moonshine. Our last visit of the day was to the rainforest on the top of the island where two massive volcanic formations are found. We walked on the top of these craters and admired the beauty of the landscape from the viewpoints. We returned with the rays of sun. This has been an amazing expedition.