Pourquoi Pas Island, Antarctica
Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent, December 7, 2023
Kayakers enjoyed paddling on water sprinkled with growlers and bergy bits, in a bay ringed by sea ice, glaciers, and snowcapped mountains. —Berit Solstad, Naturalist
Aqiutas River, Costa Rica
Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, December 8, 2023
We spotted a variety of birds including a black hawk, kingfishers, blue herons, green herons, and night herons — we even found a sloth.
Port Charcot, Antarctica
Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent, December 9, 2023
A chinstrap observes as we hike up to the cairn on Port Charcot. —Guadalupe Canale, Cultural Specialist
Bartolome Island, Galápagos
Wild Galápagos Escape, December 9, 2023
White-backed stilts feeding at the brackish water lagoon. —Ramiro Adrian, Naturalist
Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, December 9, 2023
National Geographic Quest in Golfo Dulce Bay and Playa Blanca beach landings. —Jose Calvo, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Española Island, Galápagos
Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, December 10, 2023
The Galapagos sea lion, an endemic species to the islands, thrives in a diverse marine ecosystem, primarily inhabiting the rocky shores and beaches throughout the archipelago. These social and agile mammals are highly adapted to their marine environment, preying on a variety of fish, squid, and small crustaceans. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem as top predators, contributing to the regulation of prey populations. Breeding colonies are established on beaches where males defend territories and harems while females nurse their pups. These sea lions also interact with other species, sharing spaces with marine iguanas and seabirds, forming a complex web of ecological relationships within the Galapagos, and showcasing their integral part in the coastal ecosystem's balance and biodiversity. —Salvador Cazar, Naturalist
Floreana Island, Galápagos
Wild Galápagos Escape, December 10, 2023
A small flamboyance wanders around Cormorant Point. —Felipe Wittmer Naranjo, Naturalist
Española Island, Galápagos
Wild Galápagos Escape, December 11, 2023
A pod of about a thousand bottlenose dolphins joined our guests for a Zodiac ride. —Walter Perez, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Barrientos Island, Antarctica
Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent, December 11, 2023
A chinstrap penguin clambers onto a small piece of glacial ice. One of many penguins, including the gentoo at the bottom of the frame, playing king of the mountain near our landing site. —Eric Guth, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Otoque Island, Panama
Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, December 12, 2023
Cattle egret in flight. —Giulia Ciampini, Naturalist
Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos
Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, December 12, 2023
Giant tortoise reflections at the Charles Darwin Research Center. —Jennifer Hayes, National Geographic Photography Expert
Paulet Island, Antarctica
Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent, December 12, 2023
We saw a few chicks during our visit, but most of the Adelies were keeping eggs warm and nestled in their brood patch. —Chelsea Leven, Naturalist (Photo by Brooke Jackson)