Around six in the morning, we were navigating Simon Bolivar canal in between the western most islands Isabela and Fernandina, with many of our guests on the sun deck, whale-watching and enjoying the nice volcanic scenery formed by shield-shaped volcanoes of these young islands.
The Island of Fernandina is one of the last two pristine islands in the Galapagos, and at the same time, one of the three islands with many species of animals. Some of them are unique to the archipelago, such us marine iguanas, Galapagos sea lions, flightless cormorants, and Galapagos penguins among other ones.
At eight o’clock in the morning, we went ashore for a coastal walk on sandy and rocky terrain covered in marine iguanas basking in the sun before going out to sea to feed. Galapagos sea lions were resting on the beach, and other ones were having a little swim while waiting for their mothers to return from the open seas. Many red-colored crabs were seen feeding on algae from the rocks at low tide. It was a great experience to explore such a busy and exciting island.
Later on, our snorkelers had the unique opportunity to swim with Galapagos penguins, Pacific green sea turtles even few marine iguanas feeding under the water.
The ship was repositioned, while we enjoyed a delicious Mexican buffet, to the northwestern-most coast of the biggest island of Galapagos—Isabela. We headed out for Zodiac rides along the coast of Punta Vicente Roca. Noddy tern chicks were seen in their nests along the rocky coast, marine iguanas were bobbing their heads in tussles over territory, next to the Galapagos fur seals moving over the coast on the rocks.
At the end of the day, we had an equator-crossing celebration with some wine and snacks on the top deck at the sunset. What a perfect day in paradise!
