Isabela and Fernandina Islands
Today has been one of those days that we can not help being fascinated with the abundance and beauty of the Galápagos Islands and its remarkable wildlife. The extraordinary landscapes of the western side of the archipelago are truly spectacular. Impressive shield volcanoes surrounded us in a kind of magical and mysterious conjunction with blue waters and sky. The whole 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 had the thrill to observe this huge fish for the first time in their lives. The endemic and eminently interesting Galápagos penguins and the endangered Pacific green sea turtles were admired as well. These sightings delighted our guests! Just before lunch, some guests were snorkelling with the sea turtles. This experience is by itself, unforgettable. Just at lunch time an announcement caused commotion. Orcas were spotted in the horizon. We saw very clearly the characteristic long fins of these marine mammals as they were traveling and we approached them with the ship.
In the afternoon during the remaining daylight, we ventured ashore and experienced the rare privilege of an ecosystem essentially unaltered. Fernandina is the youngest island of the Galápagos archipelago. This island is considered the jewel on the crown due to its incredible pristine conditions. Breathtaking young black lava flows cover most of the island. The lava flows look so fresh that they give the impression they are still moving. Mangroves and lava cacti add some color to the lava fields. The blue ocean and the beautiful sky are perfect complements to the most wonderful natural setting you can imagine. As we traversed the black, ropey and aa lavas, Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards, nesting flightless cormorants, frigate birds, hundreds of colorful Sally light foot crabs, all allowed us into their world, some curious, some indifferent, but leaving people in quiet awe and admiration as the parties ventured back to the Polaris. Photography was particularly good this afternoon; favorite subjects were the marine iguanas that were patiently resting on the shoreline. These antediluvian-looking reptiles are truly photogenic; just take a look to the pictures of today. A wonderful sunset marked the end of the day. Reluctantly but happy we all came back on board to share our experiences with our fellow travelers. What a wonderful day we spent on these remote realms, a day that filled our hearts with joy and inspiration.
Today has been one of those days that we can not help being fascinated with the abundance and beauty of the Galápagos Islands and its remarkable wildlife. The extraordinary landscapes of the western side of the archipelago are truly spectacular. Impressive shield volcanoes surrounded us in a kind of magical and mysterious conjunction with blue waters and sky. The whole 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 had the thrill to observe this huge fish for the first time in their lives. The endemic and eminently interesting Galápagos penguins and the endangered Pacific green sea turtles were admired as well. These sightings delighted our guests! Just before lunch, some guests were snorkelling with the sea turtles. This experience is by itself, unforgettable. Just at lunch time an announcement caused commotion. Orcas were spotted in the horizon. We saw very clearly the characteristic long fins of these marine mammals as they were traveling and we approached them with the ship.
In the afternoon during the remaining daylight, we ventured ashore and experienced the rare privilege of an ecosystem essentially unaltered. Fernandina is the youngest island of the Galápagos archipelago. This island is considered the jewel on the crown due to its incredible pristine conditions. Breathtaking young black lava flows cover most of the island. The lava flows look so fresh that they give the impression they are still moving. Mangroves and lava cacti add some color to the lava fields. The blue ocean and the beautiful sky are perfect complements to the most wonderful natural setting you can imagine. As we traversed the black, ropey and aa lavas, Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards, nesting flightless cormorants, frigate birds, hundreds of colorful Sally light foot crabs, all allowed us into their world, some curious, some indifferent, but leaving people in quiet awe and admiration as the parties ventured back to the Polaris. Photography was particularly good this afternoon; favorite subjects were the marine iguanas that were patiently resting on the shoreline. These antediluvian-looking reptiles are truly photogenic; just take a look to the pictures of today. A wonderful sunset marked the end of the day. Reluctantly but happy we all came back on board to share our experiences with our fellow travelers. What a wonderful day we spent on these remote realms, a day that filled our hearts with joy and inspiration.
