Today we had the first full day of our expedition on one of the jewels of the crown, Española Island. This is one of the oldest islands in the archipelago with some of the most amazing scenery and wildlife. Our guests had an amazing experience! In the morning, we had close encounters with sea lions at Gardner Beach, where we were able to play with them during our first snorkeling session. In the afternoon, we were so lucky and found a pod with over 500 bottlenose dolphins during our Zodiac ride. We also enjoyed a beautiful sunset. What a day!
2/20/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Chinese Hat
The Galapagos never ceases to amaze and today was no exception. We began our morning with a landing at Bartolome Island, where we climbed the iconic boardwalk to the summit. Along the way, we spotted lava lizards basking in the sun and took in the breathtaking views of Pinnacle Rock standing tall against the deep blue water. The highlight of the day came in the afternoon as we explored Chinese Hat, a small cinder cone with striking lava formations. A Zodiac exploration took us along the shoreline where we spotted three Galapagos penguins resting on the lava rocks. These unique seabirds, the only penguins found north of the equator, stood side by side, preening and occasionally glancing towards the water as if contemplating their next dive. Guests also enjoyed snorkeling in the turquoise waters where sea lions twisted playfully and whitetip reef sharks swam through the currents. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we reflected on another extraordinary day in one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet.
