Following a delicious and nutritious lunch, we were briefed about shipboard life and then listened to a talk about our islands. Soon after settling comfortably in our cabins on the ship, we headed out to explore the beauty of these enchanted islands.
Our first activity was a Zodiac ride around a small islet known as Venecia. This area is absolutely full of life. From the very beginning of our outing we admired the blue-footed boobies, the sea lions, and of course, the many marine iguanas. Everywhere one looks there is an animal, either in the mangroves, in the water or on the land. The tide was at its lowest, and for us, this meant we could see more than usual. For the Zodiac drivers, low tide meant they had to be extra careful. We spent the next hour and a half exploring the coast.
The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) in this photo is completely indifferent to our presence; it is interested in fishing and does not mind having a Zodiac full of people taking its picture. This amazes our guests! We are so very close to the animals yet they are not afraid of us. Behavior like this can be found in areas that have not been greatly altered by human activities. The animals here have never been hunted; they simply have not been bothered at all. This is one of the many wonders of the Galapagos. These islands are one of the few places on earth which are sufficiently isolated to still maintain this "innocence" among the bird and animal inhabitants. Come and see for yourself!
