National Geographic Endeavour II arrived at Puerto Ayora — one of the most important sites of our expedition. Today we experienced culture and nature at the same time. We visited the Charles Darwin Foundation, where we learned about different conservation projects being run on the island. Then we had several options available for the next portion of our day. Some of our guests visited the Tomas de Berlanga School, where bilingual students guided them around. Other guests visited the Rancho Ochoa; here we learned how to produce lettuce by hydroponic techniques, saving a lot of water and providing high-quality vegetables for our tables. Finally, some guests visited the Trapiche, a farm where the owners demonstrated the traditional way to make sugar, coffee, chocolate, and moonshine! What a fun day we had! We cannot wait to keep exploring this paradise.
6/12/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolomé and Sombrero Chino Islands
Warm ocean air and a colorful sunrise met us as we approached Bartolomé. Guests traveled by foot or Zodiac to experience the compacted ash landscape. On our first snorkeling excursion, we swam with diving penguins and sea creatures like whitetip and blacktip sharks, rays, and parrotfish. On the next snorkeling opportunity, we enjoyed seeing even more fish and sea stars! After lunch, we were back on the Zodiac for a third snorkeling opportunity. We dove in by Sombrero Chino. We spotted whitetip sharks, a school of fish, sea lions, pufferfish, and more. We ended the day by circumnavigating Sombrero Chino on Zodiac. We spotted more penguins. The community spirit that has developed over the week was evident as a Zodiac of guests serenaded Sarah on her birthday! Traveling to the Galapagos has made the world feel small. We have found common ground with guests and staff and made connections between our actions back home and the conservation of this beautiful archipelago. Written by Sarah Magnano and Robin Lockwood, Grosvenor Teacher Fellows
