Isabela & Fernandina Islands
Early this morning as a pre-breakfast event, we were woken up to the sight of Roca Redonda. This giant rock stands as the tallest volcano in the archipelago, although under water. This dominating structure attracts swarms of sea birds from the magnificent frigate to the thousands of Galápagos shearwaters.
After breakfast, we had a baptism ceremony where pollywocks were converted into true shellbacks as we crossed the equator line. This tradition consisted of the sacred drinking of iguana blood, the kissing of King Neptune’s fish and then being thrown in the water. After the ceremonies were done, we were en route to our next destination.
Next on the agenda was a tour of the northern tip of Isabela, also known as the nose of the seahorse. We began on the Zodiacs with the goal of tracking down the infamous mola-mola (ocean sunfish), which was a great success. Here, against the rugged and picturesque lava rock formations, we spotted our first flightless cormorants, a couple of penguins and hordes of marine iguanas. These species all co-exist in the same environment and are virtually stepping all over each other. The deep fissures in the lava rock have become homes and perching space to various birds like the blue-footed boobies, brown noddy terns and sally light-footed crabs. While returning to the Polaris, we stumbled upon a sea lion tearing apart a fish for a mid day snack.
Back on board, we were greeted with a typical Ecuadorian lunch, which was interrupted by the rare sighting of two Bryde’s whales off the bow of the ship. Following this exciting sighting, we were off to snorkel off Fernandina Island where the unanimous highlight was the mating of two green sea turtles right before our eyes. We further explored the pristine Fernandina Island on Punta Espinosa, a hotbed of activity. Sea lions barked, flightless cormorants and a lone Galápagos hawk made up the landscape as we weaved in and out of marine iguana colonies. On the way back and as a grand finale amidst the surging waves, a pod of bottlenose dolphins rode along side the Zodiacs with a beautiful sunset creeping behind the volcano as background.
Early this morning as a pre-breakfast event, we were woken up to the sight of Roca Redonda. This giant rock stands as the tallest volcano in the archipelago, although under water. This dominating structure attracts swarms of sea birds from the magnificent frigate to the thousands of Galápagos shearwaters.
After breakfast, we had a baptism ceremony where pollywocks were converted into true shellbacks as we crossed the equator line. This tradition consisted of the sacred drinking of iguana blood, the kissing of King Neptune’s fish and then being thrown in the water. After the ceremonies were done, we were en route to our next destination.
Next on the agenda was a tour of the northern tip of Isabela, also known as the nose of the seahorse. We began on the Zodiacs with the goal of tracking down the infamous mola-mola (ocean sunfish), which was a great success. Here, against the rugged and picturesque lava rock formations, we spotted our first flightless cormorants, a couple of penguins and hordes of marine iguanas. These species all co-exist in the same environment and are virtually stepping all over each other. The deep fissures in the lava rock have become homes and perching space to various birds like the blue-footed boobies, brown noddy terns and sally light-footed crabs. While returning to the Polaris, we stumbled upon a sea lion tearing apart a fish for a mid day snack.
Back on board, we were greeted with a typical Ecuadorian lunch, which was interrupted by the rare sighting of two Bryde’s whales off the bow of the ship. Following this exciting sighting, we were off to snorkel off Fernandina Island where the unanimous highlight was the mating of two green sea turtles right before our eyes. We further explored the pristine Fernandina Island on Punta Espinosa, a hotbed of activity. Sea lions barked, flightless cormorants and a lone Galápagos hawk made up the landscape as we weaved in and out of marine iguana colonies. On the way back and as a grand finale amidst the surging waves, a pod of bottlenose dolphins rode along side the Zodiacs with a beautiful sunset creeping behind the volcano as background.
