It is extraordinary to see how humans coexist with nature in an inhabited island. This morning we went to visit the “Fausto Llerena” giant tortoise breeding center and we were very lucky to observe recently hatched tortoises from Floreana and Santiago islands. In the last 60 years, many tortoises have been brought back into the wild, replenishing the population. Our guests learned about the importance of conservation efforts that protect this pristine archipelago. In the afternoon, we walked in the highlands among the Santa Cruz giant tortoises, seeing many tortoises of all ages, some even mating.
3/27/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Santiago Island
We are having fun exploring the Galapagos Islands. Today we arrived at the center of the archipelago to explore two magical visitor sites, Buccaneer Cove and Puerto Egas. Early in the morning we explored the shoreline in our Zodiacs and we saw many marine turtles mating and blue-footed boobies diving or resting on the rocks. We also saw frigates, pelicans, terns, and more. After breakfast some of our guests went kayaking for a closer encounter with nature. The snorkeling was also spectacular. We saw three different types of sharks, including a hammerhead. We found a school of eagle rays, a wide variety of multicolor reef fish, and a zebra moray. In the afternoon we explored the coastal line of Puerto Egas. This destination is full of wildlife and along our walk we saw red neck lava lizards, finches, land iguanas, mockingbirds, and hawks. At the intertidal zone we found sea lions, and many migratory birds such as plovers, whimbrels, and ruddy turnstones. We had an amazing day!