Isabela and Fernandina Islands
Our day in the western part of the archipelago started very early in the morning with an incredible view of Roca Redonda. This interesting rock is the top of a submerged volcano and home to many sea bird species. An amazing number of birds and a very large pod of bottle-nosed dolphins that showed up to bow ride with us for a while, were spectacular. All of us were mesmerized with this wonderful show. Later in the morning we enjoyed the navigation along the northwestern corner of Isabela Island. With a beautiful clear and blue sky as a background the volcanic landscape looked at its best. After crossing the equatorial line we lowered the Zodiacs to ride along the coast of Punta Vicente Roca. During the ride we saw an incredible amount of wildlife. Among the many species we spotted we can mention: Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, green Pacific turtles, flightless cormorants, sunfishes (Mola mola) and a very big manta ray. It was a sensational ride.
In the afternoon we visited Fernandina Island (and on the way got a brief glimpse of a Bryde’s whale), one of the most beautiful islands of the archipelago and also the youngest of all of them (its estimated age is only 300,000 years old). This island offers an outstanding landscape, one big shield volcano surrounded by very young lava flows. Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants and big groups of marine iguanas were the delight of all of us. To top the day off a stunning sunset was the golden ending of an unforgettable day.
Our day in the western part of the archipelago started very early in the morning with an incredible view of Roca Redonda. This interesting rock is the top of a submerged volcano and home to many sea bird species. An amazing number of birds and a very large pod of bottle-nosed dolphins that showed up to bow ride with us for a while, were spectacular. All of us were mesmerized with this wonderful show. Later in the morning we enjoyed the navigation along the northwestern corner of Isabela Island. With a beautiful clear and blue sky as a background the volcanic landscape looked at its best. After crossing the equatorial line we lowered the Zodiacs to ride along the coast of Punta Vicente Roca. During the ride we saw an incredible amount of wildlife. Among the many species we spotted we can mention: Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, green Pacific turtles, flightless cormorants, sunfishes (Mola mola) and a very big manta ray. It was a sensational ride.
In the afternoon we visited Fernandina Island (and on the way got a brief glimpse of a Bryde’s whale), one of the most beautiful islands of the archipelago and also the youngest of all of them (its estimated age is only 300,000 years old). This island offers an outstanding landscape, one big shield volcano surrounded by very young lava flows. Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants and big groups of marine iguanas were the delight of all of us. To top the day off a stunning sunset was the golden ending of an unforgettable day.
