Today we continued exploring the majestic island of Isabela, in the western part of the archipelago. In the morning, we went for a hike along the coastline of Alcedo Volcano! The whole area was uplifted somewhat recently; before 1954 it was all under water. We found evidence of this in the rocks of the area, they have shells and tubeworms encrusted in them. Land iguanas were spotted as well, right on the path, so our guests had to walk slowly so that they would disturb! But the best highlight was the giant tortoises, icons of the Galapagos. In the afternoon, we enjoyed the water activities, sunset Zodiac rides and an invigorating hike following Darwin´s footsteps to the top of Tagus Cove.
5/2/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Sombrero Chino Islands
We awoke at sunrise and observed the majestic Bartolomé Island showered by the first sunrays of the morning. Our first hike of the day was invigorating, almost 400 steps to the summit of Bartolomé to appreciate the astonishing beauty of the surroundings. What an amazing view! We saw several parasitic volcanoes, an underwater crater, golden sandy beach, and the many shades of blue of the ocean. On our way back to National Geographic Endeavour II, we took a detour to search for the iconic Galapagos penguins and we found them. Yay! Our afternoon destination was Chinese Hat, a small island surrounded by lava fields, fine white sand, and crystal-clear waters. We went snorkeling and swimming and had more encounters with Galapagos penguins. They’re so fast, they look like they’re flying under the water. The day wouldn’t have been complete without a sunset exploration by Zodiac to explore the coasts of Santiago Island and Chinese Hat. Some friendly sea lions greeted us with their spectacular, playful behavior. Soon, we found ourselves riding back under the light of the sunset with the impressive volcanic background of the Galapagos.