Santa Cruz Island, 3/30/2023, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
We had an amazing day on Santa Cruz. We started by visiting the Charles Darwin Foundation, where we learned about conservation projects and the community’s efforts to preserve this unique place. Then, we headed to the highlands to visit a local farm. We learned about traditional processes to produce coffee and sugarcane.
Our second visit in the highlands was to the Manzanillo Ranch. Here we had lunch surrounded by one of the largest populations of giant tortoises on Santa Cruz.
Ixora was born in the Galapagos Islands, back when the streets were made of sand and gravel. Void of TV and tablets, her childhood friends and pristine natural surroundings made for an inspiring upbringing. She was always drawn to the ocean and her l...
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We awoke at sunrise and observed the majestic Bartolomé Island showered by the first sunrays of the morning. Our first hike of the day was invigorating, almost 400 steps to the summit of Bartolomé to appreciate the astonishing beauty of the surroundings. What an amazing view! We saw several parasitic volcanoes, an underwater crater, golden sandy beach, and the many shades of blue of the ocean. On our way back to National Geographic Endeavour II, we took a detour to search for the iconic Galapagos penguins and we found them. Yay! Our afternoon destination was Chinese Hat, a small island surrounded by lava fields, fine white sand, and crystal-clear waters. We went snorkeling and swimming and had more encounters with Galapagos penguins. They’re so fast, they look like they’re flying under the water. The day wouldn’t have been complete without a sunset exploration by Zodiac to explore the coasts of Santiago Island and Chinese Hat. Some friendly sea lions greeted us with their spectacular, playful behavior. Soon, we found ourselves riding back under the light of the sunset with the impressive volcanic background of the Galapagos.
We have moved to the north part of Santa Cruz Island and this area is considered to have some of the nicest white sand beaches and climates of this island. We visited Cerro Dragon and had the opportunity to encounter the Galapagos land iguanas, the namesake of this hill. After the visit on land, we dedicated the rest of the day to water activities, and we encountered a variety of sea creatures during our outings. We followed this up with a circumnavigation around Daphne Major Islet to admire its geology and fauna. Wine tasting was happening at the same time, during a beautiful sunset on the observation deck. This was the best way to end this wonderful day of adventure.
This morning National Geographic Endeavour II anchored at Santa Cruz Island. We started the day visiting the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. During this visit we had the opportunity to see babies as well as different morph types of giant tortoises. Afterwards, we headed to the highlands of Santa Cruz to visit a local hydroponic farm. Here we saw how the lettuce we consume on board grows with this environmentally friendly technique. In the afternoon we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the highlands, and we had the opportunity to see the giant tortoises along their migration route. It was beautiful and a great learning experience!