After our longest navigation of the week, the National Geographic Endeavour II sailed into the anchorage at the western end of the Perry Isthmus, the narrowest point on Isabela Island. Elizabeth Bay would become our gateway into the western realm of the archipelago, where we are planning to spend a full three days of our expedition. Here, guests had the chance to explore one of the oldest mangrove coves of the islands which teemed with marine wildlife from Pacific green sea turtles to Galapagos penguins. After a delicious Andean lunch, we visited Punta Moreno at the foot of Cerro Azul volcano where we explored from our Zodiacs, while snorkeling and hiking on the rugged volcanic landscape.
10/3/2024
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartholomew Island and Sombrero Chino
We split into groups for different excursions this morning. Four groups went up the staircase to the top for the iconic view over the isthmus of Bartholomew Island and Pinnacle Rock. We walked past exposed volcanic formations of all sorts: spatter cones, tuff cones, and lava tubes. Two other groups chose to explore along the coast by Zodiac in hopes of Galapagos penguin sightings. All of us were successful in what we hoped for and even the walkers saw penguins near the dock where we disembarked! Both snorkeling off the beach and deep-water outings along the backside of the island were tremendously productive because we saw it all: penguins and sharks being the top species, and diving blue-footed boobies too! The afternoon had National Geographic Endeavour II anchored not too far south, off the coast of Santiago Island near Sombrero Chino. A dramatically barren, small volcanic cone where another snorkeling outing was offered and late-afternoon Zodiac rides to search yet one more time for penguins. We can never get enough of them!