Giant tortoises made for a grand finale! The island of Santa Cruz is home not only to giant tortoises but also to the headquarters of the Galápagos National Park and the facilities of the Charles Darwin Research Station. From small, teacup-sized tortoise hatchlings all the way to the true giants at over 400 pounds, this is their home. Many of them will be returned to their island of origin once they are large enough to withstand the trials of life in the wild. The tortoises are free to roam the flanks of this island and wander where they will. They spend time inside the Tortoise Reserve established by the park and travel over private property, under fences, and across roads.
6/23/2025
Read
National Geographic Delfina
Espanola Island
Pre-breakfast outings are the way to go if you want to squeeze every daylight minute out of these twelve-hour equatorial days. Kayakers departed to paddle along the low bluffs of Gardner Bay, and beach walkers and photographers spent time with sea lions, mockingbirds, and finches on this renowned white beach. We saw all three endemic finch species. After breakfast, we snorkeled with young sea lions and Pacific green sea turtles. The afternoon had us walking over, around, and between boulders with marine life nesting, resting, or courting along the way. Espanola is famous for its high percentage of endemic species – inside an archipelago of unique species! Espanola lava lizards and marine iguanas were frequent sightings, but the seabirds drew much of our attention: swallow-tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and the largest of the locals, the waved albatross.
