Urvina Bay & Punta Moreno
We traveled further southeast through the Bolivar Channel with fascinating land and sea-scapes. Our early morning deck watch was another success. Besides over one thousand shearwaters, storm-petrels, boobies and noddies spread out over the channel, the first highlight of the day was enjoying the passage of a group of bottlenose dolphins during more than half an hour. About 120 dolphins were swimming actively in a northern direction, but while the National Geographic Islander turned around in circles several times, they approached and came to bow-ride constantly.
Our hike to the coastal area at Urvina Bay was great. It was impressive to see and walk on the uplifted sea bottom. We spotted about ten colorful land iguanas and three giant turtles. It was sunny start to the day and a choir of singing mockingbirds was heard all morning, announcing that their breeding season is coming soon. We did some refreshing beach snorkeling and observed a spotted eagle ray and a penguin. Back on board, a very interesting lecture on the life of Charles Darwin was given by the naturalist Carlos Romero.
To reach the next hiking location at Punta Moreno we sailed further south along the southwest coast of Isabela. Many phalaropes (probably the majority were red-necked) and two waved albatrosses were seen flying south along the Bolivar Channel. Just off Punta Moreno over 500 blue-footed boobies formed a spectacular group diving for fish. Meanwhile anchored at Punta Moreno, there was a lecture on the variety of aquatic birds of the salt lakes near Salinas on the mainland coast.
For hikers with a good balance there was the option for a walk on the lava fields. At the brackish water lagoons we observed flamingo, blue-winged teal, white-cheeked pintail, east sandpiper and black-necked stilt species. The other option was a panga ride along the coast. There were wonderful views of penguins, while brown pelicans and magnificent frigatebirds were found nesting on the mangrove trees. On the way back to the National Geographic Islander we very much enjoyed the flock of diving boobies that was still active. This was one more day in a row of our fantastic stay in the Enchanted Islands.
We traveled further southeast through the Bolivar Channel with fascinating land and sea-scapes. Our early morning deck watch was another success. Besides over one thousand shearwaters, storm-petrels, boobies and noddies spread out over the channel, the first highlight of the day was enjoying the passage of a group of bottlenose dolphins during more than half an hour. About 120 dolphins were swimming actively in a northern direction, but while the National Geographic Islander turned around in circles several times, they approached and came to bow-ride constantly.
Our hike to the coastal area at Urvina Bay was great. It was impressive to see and walk on the uplifted sea bottom. We spotted about ten colorful land iguanas and three giant turtles. It was sunny start to the day and a choir of singing mockingbirds was heard all morning, announcing that their breeding season is coming soon. We did some refreshing beach snorkeling and observed a spotted eagle ray and a penguin. Back on board, a very interesting lecture on the life of Charles Darwin was given by the naturalist Carlos Romero.
To reach the next hiking location at Punta Moreno we sailed further south along the southwest coast of Isabela. Many phalaropes (probably the majority were red-necked) and two waved albatrosses were seen flying south along the Bolivar Channel. Just off Punta Moreno over 500 blue-footed boobies formed a spectacular group diving for fish. Meanwhile anchored at Punta Moreno, there was a lecture on the variety of aquatic birds of the salt lakes near Salinas on the mainland coast.
For hikers with a good balance there was the option for a walk on the lava fields. At the brackish water lagoons we observed flamingo, blue-winged teal, white-cheeked pintail, east sandpiper and black-necked stilt species. The other option was a panga ride along the coast. There were wonderful views of penguins, while brown pelicans and magnificent frigatebirds were found nesting on the mangrove trees. On the way back to the National Geographic Islander we very much enjoyed the flock of diving boobies that was still active. This was one more day in a row of our fantastic stay in the Enchanted Islands.
