Isabela and Fernandina Islands
The marine richness produced by the up-welling ocean currents on the western side of the archipelago resulted in another amazing day. At sunrise, while navigating along Punta Flores off Isabela Island, a pod of common dolphins joined us. In addition, we watched Galápagos shearwaters, brown noddy terns, and even a couple dark-rump petrels.
An hour later, we met more dolphins and sea birds in a feeding frenzy, and we spied the spout of a Bryde’s whale in the distance. Once anchored off Punta Vicente Roc,a we took a Zodiac ride along the base of spectacular cliffs and then geared up for a snorkel outing. This proved to be an outstanding adventure. Dozens of penguins, sea lions, and huge Wahoo darted into a dense school of salemas. Nearby, lazy sea turtles resting on the sandy bottom were being cleaned by wrasses. A pair of amorous flightless cormorants paddled in circles small as they courted and preformed an aquatic ballet.
In the afternoon, we visited the relatively young and still pristine Fernandina Island. The presence of red and white mangrove growing along the lava shores and Bracycereus cactus growing out of the barren are evidence of pioneer plants, the first plants to establish on these desolate shores. We followed a marked trail across the pahoe-hoe lava flows and observed flightless cormorants incubating their eggs on bulky seaweed nests. In one of them, we noticed a tiny chick. Although the 1400 estimated flightless cormorant with an estimated population of 1400 individuals is not endangered, it is considered fragile. Next to the cormorant nests were piles of marine iguanas who sneezed salt spray out their nostrils. They have specialized glands for the extraction of excess salt from their system which results from their diet of marine algae.
Among all of these experiences, it’s hard to say what today’s highlight was!
The marine richness produced by the up-welling ocean currents on the western side of the archipelago resulted in another amazing day. At sunrise, while navigating along Punta Flores off Isabela Island, a pod of common dolphins joined us. In addition, we watched Galápagos shearwaters, brown noddy terns, and even a couple dark-rump petrels.
An hour later, we met more dolphins and sea birds in a feeding frenzy, and we spied the spout of a Bryde’s whale in the distance. Once anchored off Punta Vicente Roc,a we took a Zodiac ride along the base of spectacular cliffs and then geared up for a snorkel outing. This proved to be an outstanding adventure. Dozens of penguins, sea lions, and huge Wahoo darted into a dense school of salemas. Nearby, lazy sea turtles resting on the sandy bottom were being cleaned by wrasses. A pair of amorous flightless cormorants paddled in circles small as they courted and preformed an aquatic ballet.
In the afternoon, we visited the relatively young and still pristine Fernandina Island. The presence of red and white mangrove growing along the lava shores and Bracycereus cactus growing out of the barren are evidence of pioneer plants, the first plants to establish on these desolate shores. We followed a marked trail across the pahoe-hoe lava flows and observed flightless cormorants incubating their eggs on bulky seaweed nests. In one of them, we noticed a tiny chick. Although the 1400 estimated flightless cormorant with an estimated population of 1400 individuals is not endangered, it is considered fragile. Next to the cormorant nests were piles of marine iguanas who sneezed salt spray out their nostrils. They have specialized glands for the extraction of excess salt from their system which results from their diet of marine algae.
Among all of these experiences, it’s hard to say what today’s highlight was!
