Isabela & Fernandina Islands
Our day has been simply spectacular! We began our activities early in the morning with an optional call to join us on the outer decks to search for marine mammals. The eyes of many eager guests made possible the encounter of hundreds of common dolphins right before breakfast. It was a great display of pirouettes and jumps that demonstrated the incredibly high skills of these creatures.
Shortly after breakfast we continued with the crossing of the equator line and the navigation of Ecuador Volcano and its impressive eroded flanks. It was probably one of the very few opportunities in life to see the interior of a volcano without having to climb it, but rather observing it from the comfort of the ship, as we navigated alongside.
Our Zodiac exploration along the southern flank of the same volcano gave us all many highlights. Penguins, flightless cormorants, sea lions, blue footed boobies and tons of marine iguanas…literally!
The snorkeling outing was equally exiting, as we not only saw the same animals again, but this time we saw them in their daily life’s activities, foraging. Penguins were zooming underwater as we ungraciously and unsuccessfully tried to catch up with their speed. Cormorants were also observed while hunting not only for food, but looking for some extra nesting material for their nest, and the sea turtles were probably the highlight, as we couldn’t miss the gigantic bodies of some females passing right underneath us.
The visit to Fernandina Island was really what we all needed to make this day even more especial. The background of Fernadina Volcano, the sea lions, the iguanas, the cormorants and the hawks made this a successful visit in one of the most pristine islands in the world!
Our day has been simply spectacular! We began our activities early in the morning with an optional call to join us on the outer decks to search for marine mammals. The eyes of many eager guests made possible the encounter of hundreds of common dolphins right before breakfast. It was a great display of pirouettes and jumps that demonstrated the incredibly high skills of these creatures.
Shortly after breakfast we continued with the crossing of the equator line and the navigation of Ecuador Volcano and its impressive eroded flanks. It was probably one of the very few opportunities in life to see the interior of a volcano without having to climb it, but rather observing it from the comfort of the ship, as we navigated alongside.
Our Zodiac exploration along the southern flank of the same volcano gave us all many highlights. Penguins, flightless cormorants, sea lions, blue footed boobies and tons of marine iguanas…literally!
The snorkeling outing was equally exiting, as we not only saw the same animals again, but this time we saw them in their daily life’s activities, foraging. Penguins were zooming underwater as we ungraciously and unsuccessfully tried to catch up with their speed. Cormorants were also observed while hunting not only for food, but looking for some extra nesting material for their nest, and the sea turtles were probably the highlight, as we couldn’t miss the gigantic bodies of some females passing right underneath us.
The visit to Fernandina Island was really what we all needed to make this day even more especial. The background of Fernadina Volcano, the sea lions, the iguanas, the cormorants and the hawks made this a successful visit in one of the most pristine islands in the world!
