Fernandina Island
What an exciting day! Blue skies were the perfect frame for the breathtaking landscapes of the western side of the archipelago. Impressive shield volcanoes surrounded us. This day has been filled with extraordinary wildlife sightings. In the morning we went for a Zodiac ride along the coastline of Punta Vicente Roca. We spotted the amazing ocean sunfish (Mola mola). Many of our visitors saw this giant fish for the first time in their life. In addition to the sunfishes some of us observed a couple of blue sharks, which are considered very rare in the Galapagos.
During the whole day, the PA system onboard Polaris did not stop calling our attention. It was a truly spectacular day for cetaceans and we observed several different species of these wonderful marine mammals. We encountered a very big pod of common dolphins. Approximately 300 individuals were swimming as fast as the ship and jumping acrobatically, some leaped totally out of water. The unusual Cuvier’s beaked whale was spotted briefly; Bryde’s or tropical whales and orcas were seen as well. These sightings delighted our guests!
During the afternoon visit to Punta Espinosa, Fernandina, hundreds of marine iguanas were observed basking in the sun or eating algae along the coastline. Pacific green sea turtles, Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants made the walks and Zodiac cruises special. Eighty guests, five naturalists, one expedition leader (and her two kids) and a happy crew were all witness to a great day in this remote and magical paradise. Today has been one of those days that we can not help being fascinated with the abundance and the beauty of the Galapagos wildlife.
What an exciting day! Blue skies were the perfect frame for the breathtaking landscapes of the western side of the archipelago. Impressive shield volcanoes surrounded us. This day has been filled with extraordinary wildlife sightings. In the morning we went for a Zodiac ride along the coastline of Punta Vicente Roca. We spotted the amazing ocean sunfish (Mola mola). Many of our visitors saw this giant fish for the first time in their life. In addition to the sunfishes some of us observed a couple of blue sharks, which are considered very rare in the Galapagos.
During the whole day, the PA system onboard Polaris did not stop calling our attention. It was a truly spectacular day for cetaceans and we observed several different species of these wonderful marine mammals. We encountered a very big pod of common dolphins. Approximately 300 individuals were swimming as fast as the ship and jumping acrobatically, some leaped totally out of water. The unusual Cuvier’s beaked whale was spotted briefly; Bryde’s or tropical whales and orcas were seen as well. These sightings delighted our guests!
During the afternoon visit to Punta Espinosa, Fernandina, hundreds of marine iguanas were observed basking in the sun or eating algae along the coastline. Pacific green sea turtles, Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants made the walks and Zodiac cruises special. Eighty guests, five naturalists, one expedition leader (and her two kids) and a happy crew were all witness to a great day in this remote and magical paradise. Today has been one of those days that we can not help being fascinated with the abundance and the beauty of the Galapagos wildlife.
