Santiago Island, also known as James Island is of one of the few Islands visited by Charles Darwin in 1835. Today our guest visits early morning a site is known as Espumilla Bay, we have an early hike, paddleboards and kayaks around the bay. After breakfast we move to Buccaneer’s Cove where we enjoy deep-water snorkel, glass bottom boat and more kayaking along the cove. We spot lots of Pacific green sea turtles, sea lions, golden rays, an even a hammerhead shark. After lunch the National Geographic Endeavour II move to Puerto Egas, here our guests enjoy time of at the beach, follow by a hike along the coast. This was another wonderful day at the Galapagos Islands.
10/4/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Genovesa Island
With coffee in hand, I stepped out onto the front balcony of the lounge to see what was going on. We had just entered Darwin’s Bay, dropped anchor, and the juvenile red-footed boobies had found the ship and were flying around us on an inspection tour. The rest of the day continued with discoveries of all kinds. An early morning inversion layer (locally known as “garúa”) had fallen and dampened the environment with much desired drops of fresh water, although the chicks of various species didn’t appear terribly pleased in having wet feathers. On our return, the same bedraggled individuals looked smooth, sleek and dry once the sun had come out. The Galapagos National Park has only two sites for visitors, both spectacular, both well worth a slow walk among the palo santo trees to see the great frigatebirds, red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, Galapagos doves, Darwin’s finches, short-eared owls, and storm petrels. Snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding along the base of the cliffs of Darwin’s Bay followed. There’s nothing quite like this island anywhere in the world.
