Isabela & Fernandina
After a long navigation we woke up this morning on the western side of the archipelago for a magnificent view of the volcanoes of Isabela. As the National Geographic Endeavour navigated along the western coast of Isabela we crossed the Equator line from north to south.
It is hard to put in words the beauty and the magnificence of the youngest volcanoes of the Galápagos, when they rise above the ocean so imposing and so delightful, covered with the morning clouds that makes them look almost magical.
Punta Vicente Roca showed us many geological features that made us understand how this island was formed, but it was hard to concentrate on the spectacular view every time our naturalist pointed out green sea turtles, flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas, fur seals, and Nazca boobies. Everything was there for us to enjoy their uniqueness.
When we thought that we had seen everything, our naturalists took us snorkeling at the same site that we had been earlier to show us the beauty of the ocean and it happened to be the best snorkel so far. Marine turtles were floating peacefully or they were being cleaned by king angel fish at the cleaning stations, thousands of striped salemas and grunts were all over the place and some of us got to see the speed of the Galápagos penguin under water. It was hard to leave this site, but we had to go in order to reach our afternoon destination.
In the afternoon the youngest island of the archipelago, Fernandina, was waiting for us to enjoy its unique beauty. Here we were brought back in time between the vast colonies of the largest marine iguanas basking in the sun, and the black lava that heated our footsteps as we moved between them; sea lions playing in the tidal pools and flightless cormorants drying their wings were views that we will never forget.
So this is how our week in paradise goes by day by day, enjoying every minute of it. Now it is your turn to enjoy the magic of the Galápagos.
