Isabela & Fernandina Islands
6:30 AM: “Good morning everyone, this announcement is to let you know that we have a great sighting! We found Sperm whales, so you are welcome to join us, even with your pajamas, on the outer decks to enjoy this great event!”
We started our morning with these cheerful words from our Expedition Leader, Carlos Romero. What a wonderful way to start this day! The Sperm whales were seen very close to our ship with the calm waters of Bolivar Channel and the shield volcanoes surrounding us as a background. Located on the western side of the archipelago, Bolivar Channel is the place where the mighty Cromwell current up wells, bringing a huge amount of nutrients and cold waters. After breakfast we had a very special event, the crossing of the Equator line. We celebrated with all the children on board and everybody enjoyed the visit of King Neptune, who came with some pirates, to baptize these new visitors.
We arrived to Punta Vicente Roca, on Isabela Island. With our Zodiacs we explored the shoreline of this fascinating area. We had a lot of action around this place today. Just at the beginning of the ride we saw how frigate bird that trapped a young marine iguana was being chased by a pelican that tried to steal the prey! We found Galápagos fur seals on the rocks, blue footed boobies flying around us and Brown Noddies standing on the layers of tuff of our volcanoes as well. Everywhere there were many heads coming out of the water to breathe, green sea turtles! And, to top the morning off, we found the two flightless birds of the archipelago: the Galápagos penguins and the Flightless cormorants.
At the moment we were coming back to the ship we had another great sighting, the giant sunfish (Mola mola). After the ride many of us went snorkeling and had the thrill to swim with sea turtles and penguins. What an experience… for me it was the highlight of the day!
In the afternoon we visited the youngest island of the Galápagos archipelago. Fernandina is one the most active islands as well, with the last eruption occurring there as recently as March 2009. This island is the most pristine island as well, for not a single introduced species is found there. In a nutshell, Fernandina Island is the jewel on the crown of this remote archipelago.
We disembarked in a rough lava field covered with hundreds of marine iguanas; there were so many that we had to double check every step we took in order to avoid stepping on one of them. We also visited a colony of Flightless cormorants. Later on we found a Galápagos snake and a Galápagos Hawk that observed us during most of our stay on the island.
At the time I am writing this report we are navigating toward the central islands; the western realms of the archipelago stay behind… but it will be hard to forget all the incredible events we all witnessed today!
6:30 AM: “Good morning everyone, this announcement is to let you know that we have a great sighting! We found Sperm whales, so you are welcome to join us, even with your pajamas, on the outer decks to enjoy this great event!”
We started our morning with these cheerful words from our Expedition Leader, Carlos Romero. What a wonderful way to start this day! The Sperm whales were seen very close to our ship with the calm waters of Bolivar Channel and the shield volcanoes surrounding us as a background. Located on the western side of the archipelago, Bolivar Channel is the place where the mighty Cromwell current up wells, bringing a huge amount of nutrients and cold waters. After breakfast we had a very special event, the crossing of the Equator line. We celebrated with all the children on board and everybody enjoyed the visit of King Neptune, who came with some pirates, to baptize these new visitors.
We arrived to Punta Vicente Roca, on Isabela Island. With our Zodiacs we explored the shoreline of this fascinating area. We had a lot of action around this place today. Just at the beginning of the ride we saw how frigate bird that trapped a young marine iguana was being chased by a pelican that tried to steal the prey! We found Galápagos fur seals on the rocks, blue footed boobies flying around us and Brown Noddies standing on the layers of tuff of our volcanoes as well. Everywhere there were many heads coming out of the water to breathe, green sea turtles! And, to top the morning off, we found the two flightless birds of the archipelago: the Galápagos penguins and the Flightless cormorants.
At the moment we were coming back to the ship we had another great sighting, the giant sunfish (Mola mola). After the ride many of us went snorkeling and had the thrill to swim with sea turtles and penguins. What an experience… for me it was the highlight of the day!
In the afternoon we visited the youngest island of the Galápagos archipelago. Fernandina is one the most active islands as well, with the last eruption occurring there as recently as March 2009. This island is the most pristine island as well, for not a single introduced species is found there. In a nutshell, Fernandina Island is the jewel on the crown of this remote archipelago.
We disembarked in a rough lava field covered with hundreds of marine iguanas; there were so many that we had to double check every step we took in order to avoid stepping on one of them. We also visited a colony of Flightless cormorants. Later on we found a Galápagos snake and a Galápagos Hawk that observed us during most of our stay on the island.
At the time I am writing this report we are navigating toward the central islands; the western realms of the archipelago stay behind… but it will be hard to forget all the incredible events we all witnessed today!
