Isabela Island: Urbina Bay & Pta. Moreno

It is a great moment when early wake up occurs and you look up in the sky and every part seems to be clear. Then you feel a nice breeze caressing your face: the warm season has arrived and the climate has changed.

Urbina Bay is a spectacular place, like no other. It is the only known place in the Galápagos where coastal land was uplifted more than five meters in a matter of one week approximately, a phenomenon that really means change in every way. What used to be a mangrove-lined bay serving as a rookery and home to lots of marine animals is now an arid piece of land. The land iguanas love hot surfaces, so they now relish the area as a new reptilian home, and we saw a dozen of those large yellowish lizards basking on the rocks and among the uplifted skeletal remains of the corals.

Many of us, upon landing on the beach of black volcanic sand, spied something shiny way up on the sand dunes: a green sea turtle, right up on the beach, finishing its nocturnal nesting activity, during which it probably laid over 100 eggs. It was in a hurry, as being caught in the hot sun on shore could lead to its death, and we were surprised by how agile and fast the massive creature was. It eventually reached the water and collapsed, seemingly with great relief (as temperatures outside were reaching about 100ºF). All this activity was overlooked with great curiosity by a juvenile Galápagos hawk, attracted to the area by the activity. Five NG Islander guests and several staff decided to swim in the warm waters the approximately 600 metres back to the ship and it was good exercise. Lunch was served and everyone arrived on time for it.

In the afternoon we re-positioned to Punta Moreno, which is an uncommon visitor site frequented by few vessels, a place where the lava flows are exceptionally preserved, every rock symbolizing a moment in recent history. We disembarked and hiked over
a typical pahoehoe lava flow, with its twists and turns and numerous cracks and fissures.

Just as our eyes tired of the endless black scenery, we came to oases of brilliant green, where unexpected pools of salt water were home to many plant and bird species in the middle of the black desert.

Walks were followed by Zodiac rides along the coast, where a narrow channel lined with dense mangrove forests penetrates farther inland and opens up to a big lagoon with many arms. It is a haven for green turtles, golden rays and spotted eagle rays of which we spotted many.

People like our guests will never forget places like this. No footprints are left behind, and pictures remember all the details.