Isabela & Fernandina Islands
We started our day early in the morning searching for whales; the day promised to be spectacular from the beginning to its last minute, because it started with an amazing sunrise over the Pacific Ocean. Soon afterwards we spotted a flock of blue and Nazca boobies fishing, along with a group of frigate birds gliding alongside the National Geographic Endeavour. While everyone was enjoying this show, some of our guests saw the spout of a whale and we immediately changed the course of our ship to get a better look. It was a sperm whale, logging on the surface; eventually it took a deep breath and disappeared in the depths of the blue ocean.
After a spectacular Zodiac ride with Pacific Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) everywhere, lots of marine birds and a spectacular geological formation, we returned on board-- not for lunch, but to get ready to go out snorkeling with more Mola molas, Pacific green sea turtles , Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants, and lots of fish as well.
As we returned on board we saw two orcas feeding on Mola molas and Pacific green sea turtles. This morning was just amazing; it made our day magical.
Fernandina Island is a pristine geological formation and it’s the youngest island in the Galápagos. Due to its location, the Cromwell current hits this area, making its water very rich in nutrients; this is the reason for the abundance of sea life in this area.
To finish our perfect day we were star gazing at the bow of the ship; we saw constellations of the northern and southern sky, and two very bright planets, one rising from the east (Jupiter) and another setting on the west (Venus).
