Isabela and Fernandina Islands
This is been an extraordinary day! We sailed around Northern Isabela seeking for cetaceans as the sun rose over the distant volcanoes of the western Galápagos Islands, after which we passed by Ecuador Volcano and observed the formation well known as the “donkey’s ear”. This interesting name is owed to the fact that, when approaching from the south, the cave and the tuff cone that make up the point look like the ear of a donkey!
After crossing the equator line we dropped anchor, lowered our fleet of Zodiacs and started our panga rides. These provided several surprises, such as Galápagos sea lions resting inside a cave, endemic fur seal pups playing games in the water and performing for us, immature Nazca boobies trying to take-off from their ledge as well as fluttering their gular sacks to cool off. The true highlight, however, came right at the end of the ride, when we observed something spectacular: a large shark-like fin swaying from side to side that signalled the presence of the oceanic sunfish, or Mola mola. We spotted and approached several individuals that stayed with us for a while and allowed us to observe them from different angles for a while without leaving immediately. We were actually close enough to observe the curious shape, tiny round mouth and dappled skin; in fact our naturalist Gabriel got close enough to jump in with the ship’s underwater video camera and get great footage that we shared over cocktails this evening, as well as footage of penguins, sea lions and sea turtles.
During lunch we sailed on towards Fernandina Island, which was as always filled with life and beauty when we got there. Our fascination in the flight patterns of a couple of hawks was interrupted by the beautiful song of the yellow warbler. Marine iguanas were everywhere we passed by, basking in the sun absorbing heat and excreting salt water. Male sea lions made their way out of the water ready to spend the night on land, while others where barking at the females that made their way towards the bushes.The excursion has come to its end and the sun set gives us all a natural present: sunlight over the edge of Ecuador Volcano. While observing this manifestation of life we cannot help but marvel at the wonders of nature.
This is been an extraordinary day! We sailed around Northern Isabela seeking for cetaceans as the sun rose over the distant volcanoes of the western Galápagos Islands, after which we passed by Ecuador Volcano and observed the formation well known as the “donkey’s ear”. This interesting name is owed to the fact that, when approaching from the south, the cave and the tuff cone that make up the point look like the ear of a donkey!
After crossing the equator line we dropped anchor, lowered our fleet of Zodiacs and started our panga rides. These provided several surprises, such as Galápagos sea lions resting inside a cave, endemic fur seal pups playing games in the water and performing for us, immature Nazca boobies trying to take-off from their ledge as well as fluttering their gular sacks to cool off. The true highlight, however, came right at the end of the ride, when we observed something spectacular: a large shark-like fin swaying from side to side that signalled the presence of the oceanic sunfish, or Mola mola. We spotted and approached several individuals that stayed with us for a while and allowed us to observe them from different angles for a while without leaving immediately. We were actually close enough to observe the curious shape, tiny round mouth and dappled skin; in fact our naturalist Gabriel got close enough to jump in with the ship’s underwater video camera and get great footage that we shared over cocktails this evening, as well as footage of penguins, sea lions and sea turtles.
During lunch we sailed on towards Fernandina Island, which was as always filled with life and beauty when we got there. Our fascination in the flight patterns of a couple of hawks was interrupted by the beautiful song of the yellow warbler. Marine iguanas were everywhere we passed by, basking in the sun absorbing heat and excreting salt water. Male sea lions made their way out of the water ready to spend the night on land, while others where barking at the females that made their way towards the bushes.The excursion has come to its end and the sun set gives us all a natural present: sunlight over the edge of Ecuador Volcano. While observing this manifestation of life we cannot help but marvel at the wonders of nature.
