Today, National Geographic Endeavour II is anchored inside of a caldera at Genovesa Island. We started the day with a nice walk on Prince Philips Steps and Darwin’s Bay. Sea birds like Nazca boobies, frigate birds and red footed boobies were everywhere, posing for us at the best angles. The conditions inside the caldera today were perfect for exploring the underwater world by snorkeling with marine animals like the Galapagos sea lion and the Galapagos fur seal. Paddle boarding and kayaking were on the schedule today, so we could get some exercise while we enjoy marine sea turtles swimming next to us. It was an exceptional last day of the expedition aboard National Geographic Endeavour II. We will remember this paradise forever.
10/3/2024
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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!