Today was our last full day in Galapagos and we explored two visitor sites, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. First we climbed to the top of a parasitic cone; it’s a small volcano which is part of a larger volcano, and there are hundreds of them all over the archipelago. This visitor site was ideal to observe the three species of boobies in Galapagos — blue-footed, Nazca, and red-footed — among other species of seabirds. During our hike we had the opportunity to see two more endemic animal species of Galapagos, the San Cristobal mockingbird and the San Cristobal lava lizard, and many endemic plants as well. For the afternoon we visited a white coralline beach with Galapagos sea lions and turquoise water. What an amazing place to end our expedition in Galapagos.
6/12/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolomé and Sombrero Chino Islands
Warm ocean air and a colorful sunrise met us as we approached Bartolomé. Guests traveled by foot or Zodiac to experience the compacted ash landscape. On our first snorkeling excursion, we swam with diving penguins and sea creatures like whitetip and blacktip sharks, rays, and parrotfish. On the next snorkeling opportunity, we enjoyed seeing even more fish and sea stars! After lunch, we were back on the Zodiac for a third snorkeling opportunity. We dove in by Sombrero Chino. We spotted whitetip sharks, a school of fish, sea lions, pufferfish, and more. We ended the day by circumnavigating Sombrero Chino on Zodiac. We spotted more penguins. The community spirit that has developed over the week was evident as a Zodiac of guests serenaded Sarah on her birthday! Traveling to the Galapagos has made the world feel small. We have found common ground with guests and staff and made connections between our actions back home and the conservation of this beautiful archipelago. Written by Sarah Magnano and Robin Lockwood, Grosvenor Teacher Fellows