Expedition Overview
Expedition Overview
- Travel aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II, equipped with kayaks, paddleboards, and Zodiacs, allowing for up close exploration.
- Join our naturalists on interpretive island walks to learn about Galápagos wildlife, and witness incredible interactions between animals in their natural habitat.
- Meet endangered Galápagos giant tortoises at a National Geographic–supported captive breeding program, and then observe these creatures in the wild.
- Through our new National Geographic Global Explorers program, young travelers learn to explore like scientists and tell the stories of this legendary archipelago.
Itinerary
Itinerary
The Galápagos Archipelago, Darwin's living laboratory, is home to an abundance of wildlife. Isolated from the mainland for millions of years, it is a rare wilderness where animals have no instinctive fear of humans. Traveling aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II, experience up close encounters with unique species such as flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, and giant tortoises.
This trip is operated in collaboration with Lindblad Expeditions.
Depart for Guayaquil and upon arrival, transfer to our hotel.
This morning, fly to the Galápagos Islands and board our expedition ship, equipped for comfort as well as in-depth exploration. After lunch, we begin our discovery of the islands and their diverse wildlife.
National Geographic Endeavour II
Our expeditions travel between Baltra and San Cristóbal and include Santa Cruz and a selection of the other islands listed below. Each day you will have the opportunity to go on nature walks with local naturalists; swim; snorkel; or explore the waters by kayak, glass-bottom boat, or Zodiac. In keeping with the nature of an expedition, our itinerary is flexible, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in this extraordinary wildlife sanctuary. Itineraries vary and are subject to Galápagos National Park regulations.
ISLA BARTOLOMÉ: Walk to the top of Bartolomé’s volcanic cone for a stunning view of Pinnacle Rock and the surrounding beaches. After the hike, swim or snorkel among schools of multicolored reef fish. You may also have the opportunity to swim with Galápagos penguins.
ISLA SANTIAGO: Explore a series of tide pools and underwater caverns in search of Galápagos fur seals, marine iguanas, sea lions, shore birds, and Sally Lightfoot crabs.
ISLA SANTA CRUZ: Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, home to several endemic species of giant tortoise. Then tour the neighboring captive breeding program for endangered Galápagos giant tortoises run by the Galápagos National Park Service and supported by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund. Take a walk through the town of Puerto Ayora before traveling into the highlands to observe and photograph giant tortoises in the wild.
ISLA ISABELA: Explore the largest island in the group, home to marine iguanas, abundant sea turtles, the only species of flightless cormorant in the world, and the only penguin species that inhabits the Equator. Cruise by Zodiac and hike against a backdrop of giant shield volcanoes, and snorkel in the cool waters that often draw whales and dolphins to the area.
ISLA FLOREANA: Hike to a turtle nesting beach and a lagoon that is home to flamingos and other bird species. At Champion Islet, snorkel among sea lions; then visit Post Office Bay, founded by whalers in the 18th century. If you see a letter addressed to someone who lives near you, the tradition is to deliver it by hand.
ISLA FERNANDINA: Discover the marine iguana haven of Punta Espinoza as we hike over hardened lava flows. Galápagos hawks, sea lion nurseries, and rare flightless cormorants can be found while exploring this island. Snorkel among sea turtles, penguins, and the occasional marine iguana.
ISLA ESPAÑOLA: See swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, boobies, and waved albatrosses (seasonally) in this birder’s paradise. Walk among vivid green-and-red marine iguanas and unique lava lizards, and observe sea lions up close on a pristine white-sand beach.
After breakfast, disembark the ship and fly to Guayaquil, with the remainder of the day at your leisure.
Depart Guayaquil this morning, arriving home the same day.