As our expedition aboard National Geographic Endeavour II continued today, we visited the northwest side of Santa Cruz Island. We started the day by hiking in the beautiful morning light. Iguanas welcomed us as they came out of their burrows to bask in the sun. They do this to warm up and get energy to start their day. Our morning continued with a snorkel session on the shore of Santa Cruz. The day progressed with kayaking and a Zodiac ride in Borrero Bay. Mangroves surround the bay, providing refuge for turtles, baby sharks, and various other species.
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!