Daily Expedition Reports
16 Jun 2022

Bartolome and Chinese Hat Islands, 6/16/2022, National Geographic Endeavour II

Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos

Today we visited Bartolome Island in the morning. We went for a walk to the top of the island to admire the most famous landscape of the Galapagos, Pinnacle Rock. We learned about volcanic formations and the origin of the archipelago. In the afternoon, we snorkeled at Chinese Hat Island. We had the chance to swim with sharks, turtles, penguins, and lots of big schools of fish. We finished our day with a Zodiac exploration to enjoy the beauty of the island’s coast.

Article by

Cristian Villaroel, Naturalist

Cristian was born and raised on Santa Cruz Island, at the heart of the Galapagos Archipelago. He had the privilege of enjoying the beauty of the natural world of Galapagos every weekend, sailing in his family's small fishing boat. His parents passed ...

Dover

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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.

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Floreana Island

Our adventure on Floreana Island started early in the morning, at Punta Cormorant. We had a wet landing on a beach with “green sand” — its color is due to the presence of olivine crystals, volcanically derived silicates of magnesium and iron. The trail led us to a brackish lagoon, where we found Galapagos flamingos, giving us the perfect moment for pictures. Next we followed a trail surrounded mostly by palo santo trees; at this time of the year they are dry and leafless, but they are just waiting for the rainy season to blossom. At the end of the trail a white sandy beach was waiting for us. Later in the morning we snorkeled around Champion. It was an amazing experience to play with Galapagos sea lions while taking in the beautiful underwater landscape. We finished our visit to this island with the historical site of Post Office Bay. This is one of the islands’ most famous sites due to its frequent visitations by pirates and whalers during the 17th and 18th centuries. The crew of visiting ships would leave mail inside a barrel; in turn, they would pick up any mail that was destined for their own part of the world. Of course our guests left their own postcards there, hoping they will be delivered soon. We finished the day with kayaking at sunset — a beautiful end to a beautiful day.

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Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez, Española Island

Morning’s golden embrace gave way as National Geographic Endeavour II anchored off the serene coast of Española Island. The promise of the day ahead was palpable. We were excited to visit two awe-inspiring locations: Gardner Bay in the morning, and Punta Suárez in the afternoon. Gardner Bay, with its pristine stretch of white-sand beach, was a sight to behold. Here, sea lions played the hosts. Older ones sunned themselves nonchalantly while younger pups gamboled about, their eyes brimming with playful energy. However, the ocean beckoned with its mysteries beneath. Snorkeling in these crystalline waters was like stepping into another realm. Vibrant fish flitted about, their brilliant scales refracting sunlight into transient rainbows. Some of us had the heart-stopping pleasure of encountering tranquil sea turtles and the silhouettes of sharks, as their majestic forms moved gracefully through the depths. After a morning full of oceanic wonder, we returned to the ship and anticipated the day’s next chapter: Punta Suárez. With its contrasting terrains and dramatic cliff views, the rugged beauty of this locale was captivating. Marine iguanas, with their prehistoric appearance, lounged everywhere, occasionally grumbling and spitting salt. The sky played canvas to the elegant albatrosses, their expansive wings cutting through the air with grace. Nevertheless, it was the sea lions, in their playful abandon on the rocks and shores, that captured the true essence of Punta Suárez. As the afternoon wore on and we began our journey back to National Geographic Endeavour II, nature had one more spectacle in store. A thin drizzle began to fall, casting a gossamer veil over the landscape. The light rain added an ethereal quality, making the vistas of Punta Suárez even more dramatic. It was as if the island itself was bidding us a misty, enchanting farewell. Back on board, the drizzle painted the ship's deck with tiny pearls, and we gathered to reminisce. The conversations flowed, stories of the day’s adventures intermingling, laughter echoing against the backdrop of the setting sun. The day had been transformative, each moment a testament to the wild beauty of Española Island. As night embraced the ship, the shared sentiment was clear: profound happiness, and a connection with nature that would be cherished for a lifetime. The raw beauty of Española, combined with its capricious weather and incredible wildlife, had imprinted its memories onto each heart.

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San Cristobal Island

Today is our last day in paradise. Even though we are from different backgrounds, today we are bonded as one by our magical experience in the Galapagos Islands. We traveled from Fernandina to San Cristobal Island; from the youngest to one of the oldest in the archipelago. Today at San Cristobal we landed on a green olivine beach. The volcanic scenery that we observed during our intense hike was spectacular. The peaks of tuff high in the sky make this site very different from what we have already observed. To have such profound feelings while enjoying the present created a moment that will live in our hearts forever. Punta Pitt also has impressive scenery from up above; we saw clear sky with some clouds, and occasionally felt the inversion layer keeping us comfortable for this walk. We listened closely, focusing on our surroundings while we searched for red-footed boobies. Today we were lucky to see them very close. Afterward, we enjoyed time on the beach. We had fun with baby sea lions and observed them playing together. We witnessed a particular female who was rather aggressive; she was very protective of her baby, who arrived just a few weeks ago. Later we repositioned to Cerro Brujo; we had our last walk together, enjoying the white sandy beach and turquoise ocean with sea lions nearby. What a wonderful way to say goodbye to the Galapagos. Then we boarded and passed by Kicker Rock, a massive tuff formation, as the sun was setting far on the horizon. We relaxed together in the lounge to celebrate our journey; a frigatebird flew very near to us, like it was saying goodbye. Only a small fraction of travelers have made the trip to Galapagos, and today we were delighted to complete this journey with our guests. We were honored to be part of their unforgettable experience and hope one day they have the will and power to bring positive change to this wonderful world of ours. “We must rethink our indoctrinated knowledge, the methodical saying ‘don’t humanize the animals’ and instead ‘animalize the human’ by perceiving our surrounding with all our senses; embracing nature with our true spirit by coexistence and respect for one another, so we can become one with nature as we once were.” - Celso Montalvo. Farewell amigos.

Bartolome and Chinese Hat Islands, 6/16/2022, National Geographic Endeavour II