Isabela & Fernandina Islands
The breathtaking landscapes of the western side of the archipelago and the exuberant wildlife of these realms made this day a very special one. Early in the morning we had the first one of the many great sightings that we had during the day. We spotted three orca whales in the vicinity of Roca Redonda. The beautiful silhouette and unmistakable coloration of these cetaceans provoked in their observers high notes of exclamation. Later in the morning after crossing the Equator in the company of King Neptune himself, we went for a Zodiac ride along the coastline of Punta Vicente Roca. The highlight this time was the amazing ocean sunfish (Mola mola). This bizarre-looking fish can reach an enormous size; the current world record is 5072 pounds!
Galápagos penguins were close in popularity to the sunfish. This morning was spectacular for we observed many of them in different activities. Some were swimming; others were basking in the sun. We even saw a couple of these beloved birds mating. Picture opportunities were abundant and we took advantage of them. After the Zodiacs we had the thrilling chance to snorkel with penguins and sea turtles. Some penguins were so close that several of them were face to face with us, trying to investigate our masks with their tiny beaks! The latter experience is unforgettable. How does it feel to be so close to wildlife? It is so hard to explain with words this unreal experience because strong feelings are involved. You have to live it to believe it.
In the afternoon we visited Punta Espinosa, on Fernandina Island. Hundreds of marine iguanas were observed basking in the sun or eating algae along the coastline. Flightless cormorants nesting at close range made the walk a true delight to our senses. In a nutshell we all witnessed a great day in this remote paradise, a day which makes it easy to be inspired and fascinated by the beauty and magic of the Galápagos archipelago.
The breathtaking landscapes of the western side of the archipelago and the exuberant wildlife of these realms made this day a very special one. Early in the morning we had the first one of the many great sightings that we had during the day. We spotted three orca whales in the vicinity of Roca Redonda. The beautiful silhouette and unmistakable coloration of these cetaceans provoked in their observers high notes of exclamation. Later in the morning after crossing the Equator in the company of King Neptune himself, we went for a Zodiac ride along the coastline of Punta Vicente Roca. The highlight this time was the amazing ocean sunfish (Mola mola). This bizarre-looking fish can reach an enormous size; the current world record is 5072 pounds!
Galápagos penguins were close in popularity to the sunfish. This morning was spectacular for we observed many of them in different activities. Some were swimming; others were basking in the sun. We even saw a couple of these beloved birds mating. Picture opportunities were abundant and we took advantage of them. After the Zodiacs we had the thrilling chance to snorkel with penguins and sea turtles. Some penguins were so close that several of them were face to face with us, trying to investigate our masks with their tiny beaks! The latter experience is unforgettable. How does it feel to be so close to wildlife? It is so hard to explain with words this unreal experience because strong feelings are involved. You have to live it to believe it.
In the afternoon we visited Punta Espinosa, on Fernandina Island. Hundreds of marine iguanas were observed basking in the sun or eating algae along the coastline. Flightless cormorants nesting at close range made the walk a true delight to our senses. In a nutshell we all witnessed a great day in this remote paradise, a day which makes it easy to be inspired and fascinated by the beauty and magic of the Galápagos archipelago.
