In the morning, guests landed at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina. At the coast, flightless cormorants spread their wings to dry as Galápagos hawks perched alertly in the coastal vegetation. Galápagos sea lions, including suckling pups, lounged on black lava rocks near the water’s edge. Several green sea turtles surfaced close to shore, and the island’s abundant marine iguanas foraged quietly on coral algae. Later, snorkeling in the clear shallows revealed many indifferent green turtles and grazing marine iguanas.
After lunch, National Geographic Endeavour II sailed north to Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela. In the afternoon, our guests boarded Zodiacs for a coastal excursion. Along the cliffs, flightless cormorants tended nests on rocky ledges, and Galápagos penguins stood atop nearby lava fields. Numerous green sea turtles swam on the surface around the boats, and marine iguanas basked on sun-warmed lava. The towering volcanic cliffs provided a dramatic backdrop to this wildlife-rich outing.
In the evening, the ship crossed the Equator. Our guests held a celebratory ceremony on deck, performing limbo under the Ecuadorian flag and tasting Galápagos wine. A fiery sunset in the west marked the end of a full day of exploration.
