Santiago Island, 6/5/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
In Galapagos we have many different projects and all of them have the same objective, which is to restore the flora and fauna of this archipelago. On Santiago Island, the Galapagos National Park has been working for about three decades, and although it has been a challenging path, the results are amazing. In 2001, we declared the island free of pigs and in 2005, free of goats. At the same time, we started collecting Santiago giant tortoise eggs for artificial incubation, taking care of the babies and releasing them into the wild.
These are just a few examples of the many successful conservation stories in Galapagos.
Walter was born in a very small town on the mainland of Ecuador. His first trip to the Galápagos was when he was 12 years old, visiting friends and aunt, who had moved to the islands. From the first moment he saw the Islands, he fell in love with the...
Enter travel details to receive reports from a single expedition
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Send Daily Expedition Reports to friends and family
*By clicking the submit button, I authorize Lindblad Expeditions to email me; however, I am able to unsubscribe at any time. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.
Please note: All Daily Expedition Reports (DERs) are posted Monday-Friday,
during normal business hours. DERs are written onboard the ship only and do
not apply to land-based portions of expeditions.
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.
Dawn in Santa Cruz greeted us with the gentle sound of the ocean and the promise of a day filled with natural wonders. We explored the vital conservation efforts at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center where these majestic creatures remind us of the importance of preserving biodiversity. In the afternoon, our expedition took us to the heart of the island, El Manzanillo Ranch, located in the farming zone of Santa Cruz, where giant tortoises roam freely in their natural habitat. With each step the crunch of leaves beneath our boots immersed us in a primitive and fascinating world. We then explored the impressive volcanic sinkholes of Los Gemelos, located in the highlands, surrounded by the mystical Scalesia cloud forest.
We arrived at the north of Santa Cruz Island, and we witnessed that there had been heavy rains in recent days, leaving this part of the island covered in green. It was like an artist’s palette, with all the shades of green captured in this amazing landscape.
