Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
Our walk today, in the central part of the largest Island in this archipelago, was the very essence of this place and the most interesting terrain we could have ever imagined. Isabela is a big island, made out of six volcanoes that have joined together over time, where five species of tortoise have radiated from a common ancestor. Giant tortoises and the prehistoric-looking land iguanas roam the green vegetation found in the lower areas of the volcanoes. During this season many of the female tortoises have come down to the arid zone to lay their eggs and enjoy the still-green plants that will soon lose their leaves. We could have not been more lucky than today, enjoying several giant tortoises and the natural habitat of the land iguanas.
The geology has given a touch of magic to this place over time; a big area of the coast of Urbina Bay was uplifted in 1959, created by the movement of tectonic plates. As a result of this event we see some giant brain coral and the remains of marine life in sedimentary rock that we would call marine fossils on land.
We also explored Tagus Cove, where the H.M.S Beagle anchored in 1835, with the famous young naturalist Charles Darwin aboard. As we hiked up to the see the volcanoes we observed Darwin’s Lake, a brackish water lagoon—it is a beautiful formation in the heart of a tuff cone. The landscape of this place, together with the birds and plants that inhabit it, has given us the joy to have become part of nature.
We snorkeled with penguins and sea turtles in a place full of life; productivity is high due to the presence of the nutrient-rich oceanic submarine counter-current and it is full of life and activity. The Zodiac ride in the late afternoon was also very relaxing.
As we headed back to the ship at sunset time, we realized that these islands deserve to be conserved, not only for us humans to visit but for all of the wonderful creatures that have made this place their home.
