Isabela and Fernandina Islands
Overnight, the Islander repositioned to the northwest of the Galápagos Archipelago, an area which is both the starkest yet strangely the most beautiful at the same time. The western islands, Isabela and Fernandina, are the true essence of Galápagos, bringing us back in time to the violent and fiery formation of the islands. They are only a few hundred thousand years old, and the twisted shapes of the solidified lava flows are witness to the volcanic activity that brought these remote specks of land, hundreds of miles from the nearest continent, into existence. It is amazing to think that anything could have possibly colonized land as uninviting as this, yet a few astonishing life forms managed to do so. Though seemingly barren and lifeless from afar, a closer looks reveals such oddities as tiny penguins, flightless cormorants, sea-going iguanas, blue-footed sea birds and scarlet crabs cluttering the black shorelines.
The sun arose this morning as we approached the towering shield volcanoes that make up these two islands, and we were greeted upon our arrival by an enormous school of graceful common dolphins leaping acrobatically in the waters everywhere we turned. Later on in the morning, Zodiac cruises, snorkeling and kayaking brought us into close proximity with sea turtles, oceanic sunfish and much more. And the afternoon regaled us with yet more treats as we hiked and cruised in the areas pictured here.
Altogether a truly unforgettable day in what was once considered something akin to hell but we have now found to be closer to a strange kind of paradise.
Overnight, the Islander repositioned to the northwest of the Galápagos Archipelago, an area which is both the starkest yet strangely the most beautiful at the same time. The western islands, Isabela and Fernandina, are the true essence of Galápagos, bringing us back in time to the violent and fiery formation of the islands. They are only a few hundred thousand years old, and the twisted shapes of the solidified lava flows are witness to the volcanic activity that brought these remote specks of land, hundreds of miles from the nearest continent, into existence. It is amazing to think that anything could have possibly colonized land as uninviting as this, yet a few astonishing life forms managed to do so. Though seemingly barren and lifeless from afar, a closer looks reveals such oddities as tiny penguins, flightless cormorants, sea-going iguanas, blue-footed sea birds and scarlet crabs cluttering the black shorelines.
The sun arose this morning as we approached the towering shield volcanoes that make up these two islands, and we were greeted upon our arrival by an enormous school of graceful common dolphins leaping acrobatically in the waters everywhere we turned. Later on in the morning, Zodiac cruises, snorkeling and kayaking brought us into close proximity with sea turtles, oceanic sunfish and much more. And the afternoon regaled us with yet more treats as we hiked and cruised in the areas pictured here.
Altogether a truly unforgettable day in what was once considered something akin to hell but we have now found to be closer to a strange kind of paradise.
