We spent the whole day at Isabela Island, enjoying the western part of the archipelago one last time. Our planet has seen many changes throughout time, and we are able to witness recent geological activity at Urbina Bay. This area rose out of the sea in the early 1950s. Nowadays it is home to Darwin finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, and Galapagos land iguanas. From time to time, we can observe visitors such as the Alcedo giant tortoise; we were lucky to find several of these gentle giants along the trail. Isabela Island is a marvel of nature, and our guests enjoyed taking pictures of breathtaking landscapes. We had fun while kayaking with Galapagos penguins and snorkeling with Pacific green sea turtles and flightless cormorants. Galapagos…where dreams come true!
5/9/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Santa Cruz Island
We took a good look at a few giant tortoises in Urbina Bay, Isabela Island, but we all wanted a bit more giant tortoise information. These gentle giants are one of the most charismatic of the Galapagos characters. Where to start? At the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center managed by the Galapagos National Park Directorate in Puerto Ayora. Here, we saw them in all shapes and sizes, from babies a few months old to venerable reptiles older than all of us! Lindblad Expeditions supports local initiatives aimed at potentially diminishing the introduction of new invasive species. Granja Integral Ochoa is a place that provides this beneficial support. The hydroponic system is highly efficient and generates fresh vegetables without having to import them from mainland Ecuador. And the quality is so high we serve them to our guests and crew on an almost daily basis. Plus, the Ochoa family makes you feel at home with their warmth, freshly brewed coffee, and scrumptious empanadas. The day wasn’t over yet. Next, we went to Manzanillo Ranch for a meal and more interactions with Santa Cruz giant tortoises. Lunch was fabulous and the tortoises plentiful. It was another wonderful day in paradise!