We woke up at Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island. This is the most inhabited island in the Galapagos Archipelago; more than twenty thousand people call Santa Cruz Island their home nowadays. In the morning we visited the famous giant tortoise breeding center. This is the most successful program run by the Galapagos National Park Service, and one of the most visited sites in the Galapagos. Today we were very lucky, the tortoises were very active. We even saw tortoises from different islands. After this awesome visit, there was time to wander around the cozy town of Puerto Ayora. Afterwards, we took buses and headed towards the highlands. We had a lot of fun visiting Don Adriano’s farm; here we learned about sugar cane and coffee. Then we had an exquisite lunch at Aquelarre Restaurant and the highlight of the day was the unique experience of walking among the emblematic animals of the Galapagos, the giant tortoises in their natural habitat! It was a great day, full of new experiences that will last in our memories forever.
4/3/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Chinese Hat
Today’s expedition took us to two of the most visually stunning sites in the Galápagos, Bartolome Island and Chinese Hat, with each island offering a fascinating view into the archipelago’s volcanic past and unique wildlife. We began the morning exploring Bartolome Island, a landscape dominated by rugged lava fields, spatter cones, and the iconic Pinnacle Rock. The hike to the island’s summit rewarded us with panoramic views of the surrounding islands, showcasing the beauty of this young volcanic terrain. Along the trail, spatter cones, formed by past eruptions, stood as a testament to the island’s fiery origins with their reddish coloration contrasting against the black lava flows. Below, Pinnacle Rock rose dramatically from the sea, a striking geological feature shaped by time, wind, and waves. In the afternoon, we navigated to Chinese Hat where we were fortunate to witness an intimate moment in Galápagos wildlife, the courtship ritual of Galápagos penguins. These charismatic birds engaged in elegant mating behavior. Nearby, a sea lion mother was comfortably resting upon the rugged lava flow. From volcanic landscapes to rare wildlife encounters, today’s journey through Bartolome and Chinese Hat was a reminder of the incredible diversity and geological wonders of the Galápagos Archipelago.
