Isabela Island
In the morning we were anchored off Bahia Urbina at the base of Alcedo Volcan. We started our trip early with long walk and short walk options to explore the island. In 1954, 6 km of coral reef was up lifted by 5 meters and ¾ of a mile of the coast that had previously been underwater was exposed. The big coral heads that we found inland were imminently curious and well deserved all the attention and photos that our guests took of them. We saw marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, a striated heron feeding in a tide pool, a great blue heron chasing baby marine iguanas, and a Galápagos penguin swimming off the shore. Walking along the inland section of the trail we observed land iguanas that had been digging and we enjoyed listening to the Darwin tree finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, yellow warblers and a Galápagos flycatcher. Everybody was very happy after both the long and the short walks.
We navigated with the National Geographic Islander to Pta. Moreno on southern Isabela Island where we offered a lava hike and Zodiac cruises. Aura and Graciela led us across an expansive pahoehoe lava flow that had numerous cracks and water holes, formed when the roof of gas pockets under the lava surface collapsed. Abundant life has developed in and around these natural pools; we were surprised to find flamingos, white-cheeked pintail ducks, common gallinules, a black-necked stilt and great frigate birds drinking water from the pool.
Lynn and Antonio took the remainder of our guests on a Zodiac ride along the coast, and the walkers also did an abbreviated panga ride following their hike. We all appreciated the fantastic landscape of this recent volcanic area which seems frozen in time. We observed and photographed much wildlife: a cormorant swallowing a huge octopus, swimming penguins, golden and eagle rays, pelicans that were nest building in a red mangrove and countless sea turtles.
In a secret lagoon that can only be reached with the high tide, and surrounded by mangroves, some of us found where the sea turtles were sleeping. We paddled quietly among them and estimated at least 200! What a great finale to another wonderful day in the enchanted islands of Galápagos.
In the morning we were anchored off Bahia Urbina at the base of Alcedo Volcan. We started our trip early with long walk and short walk options to explore the island. In 1954, 6 km of coral reef was up lifted by 5 meters and ¾ of a mile of the coast that had previously been underwater was exposed. The big coral heads that we found inland were imminently curious and well deserved all the attention and photos that our guests took of them. We saw marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, a striated heron feeding in a tide pool, a great blue heron chasing baby marine iguanas, and a Galápagos penguin swimming off the shore. Walking along the inland section of the trail we observed land iguanas that had been digging and we enjoyed listening to the Darwin tree finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, yellow warblers and a Galápagos flycatcher. Everybody was very happy after both the long and the short walks.
We navigated with the National Geographic Islander to Pta. Moreno on southern Isabela Island where we offered a lava hike and Zodiac cruises. Aura and Graciela led us across an expansive pahoehoe lava flow that had numerous cracks and water holes, formed when the roof of gas pockets under the lava surface collapsed. Abundant life has developed in and around these natural pools; we were surprised to find flamingos, white-cheeked pintail ducks, common gallinules, a black-necked stilt and great frigate birds drinking water from the pool.
Lynn and Antonio took the remainder of our guests on a Zodiac ride along the coast, and the walkers also did an abbreviated panga ride following their hike. We all appreciated the fantastic landscape of this recent volcanic area which seems frozen in time. We observed and photographed much wildlife: a cormorant swallowing a huge octopus, swimming penguins, golden and eagle rays, pelicans that were nest building in a red mangrove and countless sea turtles.
In a secret lagoon that can only be reached with the high tide, and surrounded by mangroves, some of us found where the sea turtles were sleeping. We paddled quietly among them and estimated at least 200! What a great finale to another wonderful day in the enchanted islands of Galápagos.
