Isabela & Fernandina Island
What a wonderful day we had today.
Early in the morning we had an optional wake up call as we approached our next visitor site, Isabela Island. Here we were located in the northern hemisphere, ready to cross the equator line. Our crew and some of our guests were searching for dolphins and whales. We were surrounded by isolation, a vast ocean and an impressive volcano on our port side.
The sun rose and we headed for the equator, soon to be in the Southern hemisphere. Then suddenly, in the distance, a pod of common dolphins, a few hundred jumping and displaying their wonderful hourglass-like side markings.
Our Zodiacs were deployed and we started our most wonderful ride along Isabela’s shoreline. Marine iguanas, sally light foot crabs, penguins and flightless cormorants were surrounded by volcanic features, and we saw a majestic 1000-foot tall wall right in front of us. We went back out for snorkeling. Today was sea turtle day, visibility optimal, temperature refreshing in the low seventies. This place has many highlights, but I think today’s highlight was the Mola mola also known as the ocean sun fish.
Back onboard and while navigating, our chefs took pride to show their culinary skill while presenting an Ecuadorian typical lunch; and array of colour, flavors and shapes were a delight to our guests.
In the afternoon we disembarked to the youngest island in the archipelago, Fernandina Island. This visitor site is the only pristine visitor site in the world. Hundreds of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, crabs and even a penguin call this place home. Lava flows frozen in time for us to walk upon prove Mother Nature’s mighty power. Today we were surrounded by coexistence. What a sight.
What a lucky day we had, and sure enough an award-winning sunset. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
