Isabela Island
Another marvelous day dawned around 7:00am with short-beaked common dolphins surrounding the National Geographic Islander. Hundreds of them swam in different directions, even jumping and showing off their spectacular abilities playing on the open sea.
After breakfast we all enjoyed a ceremony of crossing the equator line which took place by the Captain’s bridge. The boat was straddling the equator line, located just in the middle of the northern and southern hemispheres.
We took several photos of the collapsed caldera of the Ecuador volcano, immediately after I gave some information about the island of Isabela and its six active shield volcanoes that some time ago joined above sea level. We now see them on the surface of the water as the tips of huge submarine volcanoes.
All of our guests took a Zodiac ride along the coast by the flanks of Ecuador volcano on Punta Vicente Roca and got excited by looking at several green pacific sea turtles that gracefully grasped the algae from the lava rocks in shallow waters of this peaceful Pacific place. We spotted some flightless cormorants resting and sunbathing by the shore with their rudimentary wings that are not used for flying any more. Immediately after this, we went snorkeling in waters of around 78F, with the sea turtles that gently moved around us.
A flightless cormorant ignored us while in the water, as he kept preening his feathers on the surface of it, enjoying the sun.
We came back to the National Geographic Islander by noon with incredible experiences to share. After a delicious lunch, we all went for the last outing near Fernandina Island, the island with one of the most active volcanoes in Galápagos, one that erupted a few weeks ago. As we landed and started the hike, our guests immediately spotted the largest marine iguanas unique from Galápagos. All these creatures blend so well into the basaltic lava.
Lava lizards, snakes, Galápagos sea lions and the flightless cormorants form an spectacular mosaic of endemic species that get along very well together in this precious and unique island untouched by humans and introduced species. Before finishing the afternoon on Fernandina Island, we witnessed a hungry female lava lizard eating a complete baby lizard.
Our guests traveling with children most enjoyed observing and exploring this enchanted place together. We ended the afternoon with an unforgettable sunset.
Another marvelous day dawned around 7:00am with short-beaked common dolphins surrounding the National Geographic Islander. Hundreds of them swam in different directions, even jumping and showing off their spectacular abilities playing on the open sea.
After breakfast we all enjoyed a ceremony of crossing the equator line which took place by the Captain’s bridge. The boat was straddling the equator line, located just in the middle of the northern and southern hemispheres.
We took several photos of the collapsed caldera of the Ecuador volcano, immediately after I gave some information about the island of Isabela and its six active shield volcanoes that some time ago joined above sea level. We now see them on the surface of the water as the tips of huge submarine volcanoes.
All of our guests took a Zodiac ride along the coast by the flanks of Ecuador volcano on Punta Vicente Roca and got excited by looking at several green pacific sea turtles that gracefully grasped the algae from the lava rocks in shallow waters of this peaceful Pacific place. We spotted some flightless cormorants resting and sunbathing by the shore with their rudimentary wings that are not used for flying any more. Immediately after this, we went snorkeling in waters of around 78F, with the sea turtles that gently moved around us.
A flightless cormorant ignored us while in the water, as he kept preening his feathers on the surface of it, enjoying the sun.
We came back to the National Geographic Islander by noon with incredible experiences to share. After a delicious lunch, we all went for the last outing near Fernandina Island, the island with one of the most active volcanoes in Galápagos, one that erupted a few weeks ago. As we landed and started the hike, our guests immediately spotted the largest marine iguanas unique from Galápagos. All these creatures blend so well into the basaltic lava.
Lava lizards, snakes, Galápagos sea lions and the flightless cormorants form an spectacular mosaic of endemic species that get along very well together in this precious and unique island untouched by humans and introduced species. Before finishing the afternoon on Fernandina Island, we witnessed a hungry female lava lizard eating a complete baby lizard.
Our guests traveling with children most enjoyed observing and exploring this enchanted place together. We ended the afternoon with an unforgettable sunset.
