Urbina Bay & Punta Moreno
Since this island is the largest and the longest, it offers many different places to go. It is very young and we can see it. Everywhere around us are active volcanoes, and Urvina Bay is found just at the base of Alcedo, one of the active five and perhaps the most dynamic. Urbina Bay formed underwater and afterwards pushed above sea level, so along the path we could find coral formations and shells that remind us of the recent past of this place.
It was an easy and short walk for some, and a long walk for others. Everybody had an option to enjoy the local wildlife such as bright yellow land iguanas, finches, flycatchers, mockingbirds, and even a tortoise, all of them unique to Galápagos and Isabela Island.
Back at the landing spot, the walk is over and it is a bit warm. The black beach offers an irresistible option to sit down and relax, while the water is so inviting that swimming and or snorkeling sounds like a good option; it was a very refreshing, easy snorkel, with calm waters where sea turtles, penguins and eagle rays like to hang out.
Moving further south we finally came to our last place to explore on Isabela, Punta Moreno. We could see another lava field. Yet different than the ones we have seen so far, this one looked so uninviting and jagged. However, once we set foot on it, we found a landscape hard to describe, still intimidating with all the “ah-ah” lava around us, but so astonishing just to realize that there are animals and plants that can survive and live here. This place is teaching us all the time, that only the adaptable ones will survive, something to keep in mind.
Along the way, a surprise – a mini oasis – water holes filled up with water and vegetation that might be fresh water dwellers. How did they get here? That is the miracle of Galápagos. We saw some shy but noisy inhabitants, like common gallinules, and later on flamingoes (very pink ones) surrounded by black lava, a surreal view.
Meanwhile other members of our group, were on the lookout for wildlife from the panga and all of them came back with a huge smile on their faces. They had a successful ride. This place simply showed us that life can be difficult, but at the same time every day is an adventure, like having the opportunity to observe a flightless cormorant swallowing an eel at once.
