Revisit some of the most magical moments that guests experienced in 2024 aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet in the wildest corners of the world.
This week's post includes photos of three different Antarctic penguin species, as well as two additional penguin species in the Galapagos Islands and Australia's Macquarie Island.
Our day at Española Island began with a breathtaking view of Gardner Bay, a pristine white sand beach surrounded by turquoise waters. We started the morning with an incredible kayaking session, followed by snorkeling in crystal-clear waters. Afterward, we enjoyed some time on the beach where we were warmly greeted by a colony of Galápagos sea lions. After a refreshing lunch on board, we made our way to Punta Suárez, a site renowned for its dramatic cliffs and thriving seabird colonies. As the hike came to an end, we were treated to the company of a stunning sunset, a perfect conclusion to an unforgettable day.
Exploring Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island offered a chance to witness the unique beauty of the Galápagos, with its green olivine beach and unique wildlife. We visited a nearby lagoon and spotted flamingos and other shore birds.
Morning brought a gorgeous peach sunrise as we sailed into Santa Elena Bay, a marine management area renown for hosting nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and over twenty species of rays, including a fan favorite, the spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari). Along the edges of the bay, we spotted common black hawks (Buteogallus anthracinus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), great blue herons (Ardea herodias), and neotropical cormorants (Nannopterum brasilianum) making for a bird-filled morning. We also had great views of two different cactus species peppering the bay, a fascinating botanical presence to encounter in the tropics. In the afternoon, we explored Guachipelin via nature walks, swimming, and snorkeling. These excursions provided even more wildlife sightings, including white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica), capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator), and mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), the latter of which is famous for their resonant howl that can carry a whopping 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) away.
A warm breeze welcomed the dawn on our first morning aboard National Geographic Venture . Two blue whales moved around our anchorage, feeding in the morning calm. We took it as a good sign for a great expedition when we witnessed the largest animal that has ever lived as our first wildlife encounter of the trip. As we headed south, our watchful naturalists spotted more marine mammals in the distance. A group of several dozen killer whales passed by our bow along with a large group of sperm whales. On top of the amazing diversity at sea, we set to Isla San Jose for our first exploration of land. Phenomenal desert plants abounded, and we ended the day with delightful cocktails on the beach. With a day as incredible as today, we’re excited to see what tomorrow holds.
We awoke traveling south in Gerlache Strait on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula after amazing days in the Weddell Sea with emperor penguins and tabular icebergs. We passed krill fishing vessels and humpback whales targeting the same prey. Young guests from our Global Explorers kids’ education program were treated to a tour of our Zodiac garage by Staff Captain Sam and Bosun Rocky. Some Global Explorers paused to share impressions of our voyage so far: “I expected it to be a lot colder.” Billy, 11 “I love seeing all the animals and how they act in the wild.” Emery, 10 “I saw some killer whales and it was really cool how big they were.” Nate, 9 “The penguins were walking faster than I expected.” Lukas, 6 “I didn’t expect that emperor penguins were my height. They’re kind of giants to me.” Violet, 9 “My favorite part was the polar plunge. I wish I could do it again.” Harvey, 10 This afternoon, after enjoying great views of humpback whales, we did Zodiac cruises in Chiriguano Bay on Brabant Island. Dinner was delayed to observe killer whales near the ship and we transited beautiful Lemaire Channel later in the evening.
