Cruise Review: National Geographic Endeavour II in the Galapagos

After three invigorating morning excursions toward the end of my recent Galapagos trip with Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic, I was feeling a little tired and decided to take a nap.

While I was snoozing, our ship, the 96-guest National Geographic Endeavour II, cruised past the spectacular, green-lake-filled caldera of Isla Flamingo, which is also a haven for its long-legged namesakes.

If that weren’t enough, that evening’s cocktail recap was filled with testimonials of sting ray encounters and white-tipped-shark sightings. Since I’m not a fan of basking in regret, my advice to future Lindblad cruisers is to suck it up, skip the naps and not miss a single opportunity.

Needless to say, our roundtrip cruise from San Cristobal, an island located in the southeastern corner of the archipelago, was a nonstop adventure filled with animal encounters and breathtaking scenery, both above and beneath water.

Within an hour of the ship’s departure, we gathered for a celebratory toast as the Endeavour II circumnavigated a towering rock formation called Leon Dormido (“Sleeping Lion”), which rivals Los Arcos in Cabo San Lucas and Capri’s Faraglioni. The next day, on Espanola (near the southern tip of the island chain), we frolicked with sea lions on a pristine white beach, snorkeled with sea turtles and hiked a volcanic trail in the rather indifferent company of marine iguanas, blue-footed and Nazca boobies and waved albatrosses. Near the end of that hike, we watched from the edge of a sea cliff as a blow hole rhythmically gushed forth like a giant geyser.

On Floreana, which is farther west, we trekked along a lagoon frequented by pink flamingoes to a beach that is a sea turtle spawning ground, then snorkeled with playful sea lions that actually darted among us and nibbled at our fins.

In the highlands of Santa Cruz, which is located in the heart of the Galapagos, we visited the dramatic pit craters of Los Gemelos, then wandered among free-roaming Galapagos tortoises, capping the day with a swim at a tranquil beach. On our second day at Santa Cruz, we encountered land iguanas and wild goats, then snorkeled under sea cliffs and kayaked through mangroves.

At Bartolome, we hiked to an observation point overlooking the dramatic Pinnacle Rock, snorkeled around the formation and came in close contact with some adorable Galapagos penguins before sailing off to an anchorage point near Sombrero Chino islet (while I regrettably napped). That day ended on a high note with a sunset zodiac ride in the company of sea lions and more of those adorable penguins.

The final full day was spent at remote Genovesa Island, which lies across the equator at the northern end of the archipelago. There, we anchored in a volcanic caldera for more hiking, snorkeling and kayaking.

Even with such a diverse and comprehensive itinerary, there are still parts of the Galapagos that we did not cover, including the largest and westernmost islands of Fernandina and Isabella. Each weekly cruise varies, so perhaps a return one day will yield a visit to parts unseen.

Shepherding us throughout the expedition, Lindblad’s team of enthusiastic guides regaled us with their abundant knowledge of the flora, fauna, geology and history of the destination. In tandem, the ship’s Ecuadorean staff were warm, engaging and dedicated to keeping the ship clean and guests welcome and well-served at meal times.  

The National Geographic Endeavour II was introduced in 2016 after Lindblad spent millions converting it from the former Patagonian cruise ship Via Australis. The ship has five guest decks with plenty of open forward observation spaces, a lounge and a bar area that can accommodate all guests, a library, a boutique, a gym, a spa treatment room and a dining room that can also cater to all guests in one open seating.

All staterooms have a shower and private facilities, are outside with picture windows, and feature two twin-size or queen-size beds. For those seeking a bit more luxury, there are three suite categories, the largest of which has a separate bedroom and sitting area.

The nine-night expedition includes overnights pre- and post-cruise in Guayaquil and can be combined with a number of land extensions, including Machu Picchu and the Amazon. This is the kind of cruise experience you’ll need at least a few days to recover from.

But once rested, rest assured there will be memories to cherish for a lifetime.

The Details
Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic