Three hundred thousand years is not enough time for a far-flung volcanic island to be completely populated by wildlife. However, it is plenty of time for some species to adapt and successfully reproduce in the pristine island of Fernandina.
Our morning outing took place at Punta Espinoza in Fernandina Island, once known by English sailors as Narborough Island, named after John Narborough. The towering “La Cumbre” Volcano rises nearly five thousand feet in elevation, and is one of the most active volcanoes found in the Galapagos. Since the island is only about three hundred thousand years, the environment is pristine with black lava that supports pioneer life.
Punta Espinosa offers an innumerable amount of life supported directly by the rich coastal water. The tidal pools produced by the low tide are as rich in micro and macro organisms as the ocean. As soon as we landed, marine iguanas basking in the equatorial sunshine with their prehistoric faces captured our attention, taking us back into time. Sea lions and several coastal birds were also found in the basaltic coastline of Punta Espinoza. The path made of natural slabs of basaltic lava known as “pahoehoe” led us to the nesting site of the flightless cormorants, which have thrived for several hundreds of years to modify their entire bone structure, as well as their behavior, to complement this unique desolated island.
During lunch, we headed to the northern volcano of Isabela Island, which is partially collapsed. Punta Vicente Roca is a refugee and resting place for the graceful green pacific sea turtle. Our snorkeling outing was pleasant in this calm water with its distinctive volcanic landscape. Our underwater quest was memorable, full of encounters with flightless cormorants, penguins and sea lions. Colorful fish and birds were also interacting while we spent some time cruising in Zodiacs along the coastline. We ended the day with a celebration on the decks of the National Geographic Endeavour, crossing the equator at sunset as we raised a glass of wine to toast another remarkable day in the unique and paradisiacal Galapagos Islands.
