This morning, the National Geographic Endeavor II dropped anchor in Buccaneer’s Cove, named after the pirates who hid out on Santiago Island to rest and replenish their supplies in the 17th century. The dramatic landscape was the perfect setting for our morning outing, which included Zodiac and glass-bottom boat rides, kayaking, snorkeling and paddle-boarding. On the shore, we encountered swallow-tailed gulls, brown noddies, storm petrels and pelicans as well as sea lions. In crystalline waters, our snorkelers spotted colorful fish, sea turtles, manta rays and fur seals.

In the afternoon, we landed on a black sand beach visited by Charles Darwin in 1835. The low tide helped us to appreciate the intertidal zone with marine iguanas grazing on the green algae. The tide pools trapped some fish that attracted striated herons. Many migratory birds such as sand pipers, sanderlings and ruddy turnstones were also sighted on our leisurely walk. At the end of the day, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset while watching fur seals head west for some nocturnal fishing.