We are halfway through our expedition aboard National Geographic Endeavour II in the Enchanted Islands. Today we visit Urbina Bay, located on the western side of Alcedo Volcano on Isabela Island. In the morning we were welcomed on the beach by a raft of penguins, sea turtles, sea lions and pelicans plunging for their food. In this amazing place, tortoises were found walking, resting, and feeding on the trails, where land iguanas basked in the sun. In the afternoon, we went to Tagus Cove, where we explored the shore by kayaking and snorkeling. To end the day, we hiked to the summit of one of the many tuff cones on Darwin Volcano.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 10 May 2022
Urbina Bay, Tagus Cove & Darwin Volcano , 5/10/2022, National Geographic Endeavour II
- Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
- Galápagos
Charles Wittmer, Naturalist
Charles was raised in the Galápagos Islands. He is the grandson of Rolf Wittmer, the first person documented to have been born on the island of Floreana after his parents, Margret and Heinz Wittmer, emigrated from Germany in 1932.
Read MoreShare Report
Exploring Galápagos
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/7/2025
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Santiago Island
We began our day with a very active snorkeling excursion, where some of our snorkelers saw several whitetip reef sharks, a few sea lions, and fish of all kinds. We also kayaked and went paddleboarding. The geological formations are impressive here, such as the world-famous praying monk that captured our attention while on a Zodiac ride. If that wasn’t enough, we had a few rounds of glass bottom boat rides, a fabulous tool that allows us to have a clear view of the fish, and especially those sharks. Soon after lunch, we had an adventurous wet landing on Puerto Egas, with its black sandy beach that we had all to ourselves. We walked along the shore and intertidal pools of Santiago with sightings of marine iguanas, sea lions, shore birds, and Galapagos fur seals. After cocktail hour and a fun recap, we enjoyed a barbeque dinner on the top deck.
5/7/2025
Read
National Geographic Gemini
Isabela Island
Isabela is the largest island in Galapagos and today we had the opportunity to explore Elizabeth Bay and Punta Moreno. These two visitor sites are very close but very different from one another. Elizabeth Bay is covered with black lava and a mangrove forest, which becomes a perfect shelter for many species. The bay is home to flamingos, brown pelicans, and white-cheeked pintail ducks. This combination is a good reflection of the colonization of flora and fauna of the Galapagos.