Urbina Bay & Punta Moreno, Southern Isabela Island
This day of our expedition found us anchored at Urbina Bay surrounded by the enormous volcanoes of Isabela Island. We started our day with a wet landing at this remote location in southern Isabela Island. Avoiding the heat of the day we started very early with hikes. Two options in lengths were offered, a long and a short one. In both we had the opportunity to observe the majestic Galápagos land iguanas with their bright colors roaming in their natural habitats.
At the geological level, Urbina Bay is well-known among specialists for as recent as in 1954 a famous geological event took place in this area. Approximately one half square kilometers of the marine reef off the coast of Urbina was uplifted, by as much as approximately four meters (thirteen feet)! Many marine creatures that were around this place when the uplifting occurred were exposed. It is amazing but some evidence of this occurrence, which took place over fifty years ago, can still be found in the area. Big coral heads inland constitute living relics of this event.
After the walk we enjoyed a nice cooling swim at the landing beach. Our young explorers had an activity that they loved; we took them for Zodiac driving lessons. These latter activities were very popular for they gave opportunities to enjoy the area at different perspectives.
At lunch time we left Urbina Bay behind and headed towards Punta Moreno, located in the vicinity of Cerro Azul and Sierra Negra volcanoes. This visitors’ site is one of the most incredible ones in the whole archipelago; here we find cacti and mangroves growing together, right at the volcanic rocky ocean side. Punta Moreno is perhaps one of the most desolated yet beautiful places in the Galápagos for it has one of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes in the archipelago. The most adventurous and intrepid guests went for a hike on the challenging lava fields. Among the breathtaking black lava flows we found several little brackish lagoons that are oases of life for plants and animals. For those who did not want to be part of the hike, there was the option of a Zodiac ride along the coastline; there we found several sea turtles, Flightless cormorants, pelicans, penguins and rays.
We all returned aboard with a golden finale, a gorgeous sunset that marked the end of a great day of our expedition around the enchanted islands.
