Isabela and Fernandina Islands
An exciting day that has fulfilled the most demanding expectations. It is not easy to summarize a day like the one we had today. An amazing combination of wildlife, volcanic scenes and remoteness make this part of the archipelago spectacular. Every single group of vertebrates found in the archipelago could today be admired at its best.
Representing the mammals, we saw a humpback whale from the Zodiacs, a big pod of common dolphins from the Polaris and mother sea lions feeding their pups. The latter were so close that we could hear the pups as they suckled their mother’s milk!
Among the many bird species featured Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants and two amazing encounters with a brown pelican and a Galapagos hawk that were sensational. The hawk was standing on top of a lava rock. From that position it patiently observed all us passers-by. Quietly and with prudence we approached it to take some pictures. This magnificent bird of prey was at one point just six feet away from us without showing the slightest concern. The pelican was observed while fishing under water! With our underwater video camera I filmed the bird just at the moment it trapped a fish. Talking about fish, wow! A huge group of diamond rays were spotted while snorkeling. We estimated that not less than forty were congregated in a single place.
As for the reptiles, hundreds of marine iguanas were everywhere. Pacific sea turtles deserve a special comment. We were snorkeling with dozens of them. It is no less that extraordinary to have such intimate contact with these highly endangered critters.
I am still feeling so excited while trying to explain what we all experienced today to you. Superlatives and praising expressed in words sometimes are not enough to do it. A rare mix of emotions is invading me. Life is beautiful, especially when you have the chance to live in a dream. Today the islands have been like the sweetest and most pleasant dream you can imagine. A dream come true. A Garden of Eden where nature is still at its most pristine state.
