Isabela & Fernandina Islands
Today our expedition brought us to the westernmost islands of this archipelago, Isabela and Fernandina. Early in the early morning we started a whale watching shift that resulted in an elusive pod of Common dolphins, some Galápagos petrels, Phalaropes and many Storm Petrels.
This particular place is bathed by the Cromwell undercurrent. Being the coldest, it is very rich in nutrients, responsible for the upwellings that are characterized by green waters, places extremely diverse due to their productivity. The scenery of the shield-shaped volcanoes made it easy to finally understand how the passing of time is shaping the landscapes of our planet.
After crossing the Equator we headed to Punta Vicente Roca where we had a complete Zodiac ride, along the coastline of Isabela, as we talked about the species that inhabit this area, most of them brought here by the Humboldt or Peruvian Current that bathe the archipelago from south to north. On the zodiac rides we saw Galápagos penguins, Flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, Pacific green sea turtles, seabirds of different kinds, and the wonderful Ocean sunfish (Mola mola). What a great experience!
Back onboard, we got ready for our water activities. At this point of the trip, snorkeling has become the favorite activity of many people on board the National Geographic Endeavour.
The ship was repositioned to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, an island that takes us back to very beginning of time. Fernandina is the youngest of the group and lets us understand the very early processes of life taking place… the formation of soil, the simplicity of this ecological process and at the same time the fragility of its ecosystems. It also lets us respect the job the Ecuadorian government has done conserving this magical place so future generations can come here and admire the true power of nature…
