Fernandina and Isabela Islands
Our second full day on board National Geographic Endeavour began with an early wake-up with the mission to find marine life along the richest part of the archipelago. This is due to the upwelling produced by the Cromwell Current from the west. With the first beams of sun as background, the landscape looked spectacular, with the magnificence of the volcanoes dazzling us and an ocean showing a group of curious creatures. Seabirds and common dolphins gave us a show as they approached the National Geographic Endeavour. They reminded us what it means for animals to remain free, which accounts for their lack of fear of humans.
After breakfast, we headed to Fernandina, the youngest island in Galápagos; from the distance it looked black and barren, without the greenness observed on Isabela but, as soon we got there, hundreds of black marine iguanas, blending with the black rocks, made us change our minds about the island; it certainly was full of life everywhere. Walking along lava fields, we got to the shallows where many marine turtles showed their heads and others rested along small beaches that were visible from the low tide we had this beautiful morning. Perhaps our most memorable moment was the one we had with a group of baby sea lions swimming in front of our youngest guests, as though inviting them to play.
In the afternoon we moved towards the north to cross the equator line. After a special ceremony, we received the visit of King Neptune, who was the children’s delight. Finally, we dropped anchor just in front of Punta Vicente Roca, to start an incredible Zodiac ride along the coastline of Isabela. We observed many flightless cormorants swimming and others drying their wings on the rocks beside a group of marine iguanas, while in the ocean more than 60 sea turtles swam peacefully around our Zodiacs. The wind was blowing softly and the sun, as in the morning, was dramatically changing the landscape with its orange beams. But the last great surprise was still awaiting us, when a flock of Galápagos penguins swimming in front of us suddenly jumped on the rocks, as though announcing the end of this beautiful day.
