We spent the day at Isabela Island. In the morning, we went to Urbina Bay, located at the base of Alcedo Volcano. We went for a walk and observed Galapagos land iguanas all along the trail. What is more, there were Alcedo giant tortoises. We were lucky to see several big males and even a very young tortoise. In the afternoon, we went to Tagus Cove, where we went deep water snorkeling. We saw flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, Pacific green sea turtles, and a horn shark! Many activities were offered, including kayaking, an incredible Zodiac ride, and an invigorating hike to the top of a tuff cone. What an incredible day in paradise!
5/2/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Sombrero Chino Islands
We awoke at sunrise and observed the majestic Bartolomé Island showered by the first sunrays of the morning. Our first hike of the day was invigorating, almost 400 steps to the summit of Bartolomé to appreciate the astonishing beauty of the surroundings. What an amazing view! We saw several parasitic volcanoes, an underwater crater, golden sandy beach, and the many shades of blue of the ocean. On our way back to National Geographic Endeavour II, we took a detour to search for the iconic Galapagos penguins and we found them. Yay! Our afternoon destination was Chinese Hat, a small island surrounded by lava fields, fine white sand, and crystal-clear waters. We went snorkeling and swimming and had more encounters with Galapagos penguins. They’re so fast, they look like they’re flying under the water. The day wouldn’t have been complete without a sunset exploration by Zodiac to explore the coasts of Santiago Island and Chinese Hat. Some friendly sea lions greeted us with their spectacular, playful behavior. Soon, we found ourselves riding back under the light of the sunset with the impressive volcanic background of the Galapagos.