This morning we landed at the magnificent island of Fernandina, the most western island in the Galapagos. We encountered a wide variety of wildlife while we walked on a Pahoehoe lava field mixed with sandy terrain. We saw hawks, marine iguanas, cormorants, pelicans, lizards, and more! The morning did not end there. The snorkel of the day was fantastic! We swam with countless marine iguanas and turtles; we even saw a penguin and cormorant in the water. What a wonderful morning, packed with learning and wildlife encounters. In the afternoon, we sailed to Vicente Roca and enjoyed a Zodiac ride. We observed the exquisite geology and lots of penguins and blue-footed boobies, along with a large colony of fur seals. Our equator crossing was the most fun part of the day, as crazy pirates arrived on board to greet our guests in celebration of the crossing.
1/21/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Santa Cruz Island
We had a day full of wildlife encounters mixed with unique and fun cultural experiences on Santa Cruz Island. From the town of Puerto Ayora, we got on buses to visit El Trapiche Farm. It’s an interactive farm where our guests had the opportunity to learn about the process of sugarcane, cocoa, and coffee production. These activities are displayed by a local family that has followed these traditions for many generations. Our guests took part in these activities by helping to extract sugarcane juice, roasting coffee in an old-fashioned way, and distilling sugarcane liqueur. It was definitely a fun way for our guests to interact with the locals while learning how they make a living from farming. And as an extra bonus, we saw a barn owl sitting on a beam of the interior of the building’s roof. After visiting El Trapiche, our guests had a great time seeing the emblematic giant tortoises roaming freely by Manzanillo Ranch. We saw tortoises wandering around, some inside a mud pond, and even a mating couple. It was a spectacular way to end another day in the Galapagos.
