Today we visited Santiago Island. The morning was spent at the historical site, Buccaneer’s Cove. The incredible landscape and its rich and clear waters brought us back to the time when whalers were common in the Archipelago. It was amazing to take the Zodiacs and explore the coast. Simultaneously, eager kayakers were taking advantage of the current along the coast. Snorkeling was fantastic today, with large schools of colorful fish, sharks, Galapagos sea lions, and even a manta ray. In the afternoon, we hiked at Puerto Egas, the last opportunity to encounter the ecologically naïve animals of the Galapagos. What a fantastic week we enjoyed in paradise!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 17 Nov 2023
Santiago Island, 11/17/2023, National Geographic Endeavour II
- Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
- Galápagos
Vanessa Gallo, Naturalist
Vanessa Gallo’s grandparents arrived in the Galápagos Islands in 1936, making her the third generation of her family to live and work in this magical archipelago. She left the islands for the capital city of Quito for high school, where she discovere...
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Santiago Island
We began our day with a very active snorkeling excursion, where some of our snorkelers saw several whitetip reef sharks, a few sea lions, and fish of all kinds. We also kayaked and went paddleboarding. The geological formations are impressive here, such as the world-famous praying monk that captured our attention while on a Zodiac ride. If that wasn’t enough, we had a few rounds of glass bottom boat rides, a fabulous tool that allows us to have a clear view of the fish, and especially those sharks. Soon after lunch, we had an adventurous wet landing on Puerto Egas, with its black sandy beach that we had all to ourselves. We walked along the shore and intertidal pools of Santiago with sightings of marine iguanas, sea lions, shore birds, and Galapagos fur seals. After cocktail hour and a fun recap, we enjoyed a barbeque dinner on the top deck.
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Isabela Island
Isabela is the largest island in Galapagos and today we had the opportunity to explore Elizabeth Bay and Punta Moreno. These two visitor sites are very close but very different from one another. Elizabeth Bay is covered with black lava and a mangrove forest, which becomes a perfect shelter for many species. The bay is home to flamingos, brown pelicans, and white-cheeked pintail ducks. This combination is a good reflection of the colonization of flora and fauna of the Galapagos.