Urvina Bay & Punta Moreno
Today we explored the central and southwest realm of Isabela Island. Both places provided us with incredible landscapes and even better, physical evidence of its geological past.
As soon as we landed at Urbina Bay, we were gladly surprised with the encounter of a female Pacific green sea turtle. It had just finished covering her eggs and she was in her way back to the cool water of the sea. We all were amazed with her mild curiosity on us, as she stopped briefly to look around and to take a deep breath, and continued her way down to the ocean. Her nest and eggs were then left on their own, to be incubated by the warm rays of the equatorial sun.
We then continued our walk along the coast of this incredible place, and headed to an uplifted area that has remained intact since a volcanic event that uplifted over 3 miles of coast line. Many things were found still attached on the surface of the large pieces of white coral, such as shells and tube worms. Species like semi-terrestrial hermit crabs had created a refuge underneath and we were amused by a couple of them fighting over the same shell.
An inquisitive juvenile Galápagos hawk landed nearby and started to look at us with great curiosity; it took a little while for him to get bored and finally left to continue its exploration of his new territory. After a great walk we continued with our kayaking, swimming, or simply enjoying the view of the massive volcanoes of Isabela Island.
During our lunch time we travelled southwards towards Punta Moreno; this is an amazing location where a vast, rough lava flow has become the home for some special and unique species. Both plants and animals survive thanks to the presence of brackish water pools fed underground, where food and shelter abounds. The incredible wild beauty of the landscape was coupled by the presence of schools of spotted eagle and golden rays, a very large marble sting ray, penguins, sea turtles and the gorgeous-looking pink flamingos.
The colours of the sunset were just the perfect end for a perfect day!
Today we explored the central and southwest realm of Isabela Island. Both places provided us with incredible landscapes and even better, physical evidence of its geological past.
As soon as we landed at Urbina Bay, we were gladly surprised with the encounter of a female Pacific green sea turtle. It had just finished covering her eggs and she was in her way back to the cool water of the sea. We all were amazed with her mild curiosity on us, as she stopped briefly to look around and to take a deep breath, and continued her way down to the ocean. Her nest and eggs were then left on their own, to be incubated by the warm rays of the equatorial sun.
We then continued our walk along the coast of this incredible place, and headed to an uplifted area that has remained intact since a volcanic event that uplifted over 3 miles of coast line. Many things were found still attached on the surface of the large pieces of white coral, such as shells and tube worms. Species like semi-terrestrial hermit crabs had created a refuge underneath and we were amused by a couple of them fighting over the same shell.
An inquisitive juvenile Galápagos hawk landed nearby and started to look at us with great curiosity; it took a little while for him to get bored and finally left to continue its exploration of his new territory. After a great walk we continued with our kayaking, swimming, or simply enjoying the view of the massive volcanoes of Isabela Island.
During our lunch time we travelled southwards towards Punta Moreno; this is an amazing location where a vast, rough lava flow has become the home for some special and unique species. Both plants and animals survive thanks to the presence of brackish water pools fed underground, where food and shelter abounds. The incredible wild beauty of the landscape was coupled by the presence of schools of spotted eagle and golden rays, a very large marble sting ray, penguins, sea turtles and the gorgeous-looking pink flamingos.
The colours of the sunset were just the perfect end for a perfect day!
