Today, National Geographic Endeavour II is anchored inside of a caldera at Genovesa Island. We started the day with a nice walk on Prince Philips Steps and Darwin’s Bay. Sea birds like Nazca boobies, frigate birds and red footed boobies were everywhere, posing for us at the best angles. The conditions inside the caldera today were perfect for exploring the underwater world by snorkeling with marine animals like the Galapagos sea lion and the Galapagos fur seal. Paddle boarding and kayaking were on the schedule today, so we could get some exercise while we enjoy marine sea turtles swimming next to us. It was an exceptional last day of the expedition aboard National Geographic Endeavour II. We will remember this paradise forever.
1/21/2025
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Santa Cruz Island
We had a day full of wildlife encounters mixed with unique and fun cultural experiences on Santa Cruz Island. From the town of Puerto Ayora, we got on buses to visit El Trapiche Farm. It’s an interactive farm where our guests had the opportunity to learn about the process of sugarcane, cocoa, and coffee production. These activities are displayed by a local family that has followed these traditions for many generations. Our guests took part in these activities by helping to extract sugarcane juice, roasting coffee in an old-fashioned way, and distilling sugarcane liqueur. It was definitely a fun way for our guests to interact with the locals while learning how they make a living from farming. And as an extra bonus, we saw a barn owl sitting on a beam of the interior of the building’s roof. After visiting El Trapiche, our guests had a great time seeing the emblematic giant tortoises roaming freely by Manzanillo Ranch. We saw tortoises wandering around, some inside a mud pond, and even a mating couple. It was a spectacular way to end another day in the Galapagos.
