Isabela Island
Isabela Island is the second youngest island in the Galápagos. It's an unpredictable area; five active volcanoes form this giant land mass with the shape of a seahorse. Anything could happen on a visit to Isabela.
This morning we visited one of the best examples of how much this area can change in so little time. Urbina Bay uplifted in a very violent way in 1954. Violent because the area came up of the water in just a couple of days. Sea life was suddenly trapped on land. Sea turtles and fish died far away from the shore. The best proof of the uplift is the giant heads of coral that we found on our long hike. This hike took us into the dry zone of vegetation which is awake now due to the rains of the last months – vegetation is green and blooming, the perfect scenario for land reptiles. Land iguanas and giant tortoises were the highlights of the morning.
In the afternoon we moved to Tagus Cove, a famous anchorage site for visitors of the islands during the 1700s and 1800s. We found some historical graffiti and enjoyed the calm waters of the cove. We kayaked and snorkeled with penguins, and on our zodiac ride we witnessed a rock sliding into the water, changing again the scenario of this new island.
This is Isabela! An island that is still being formed; it's changing in front of our eyes, a place where anything could happen.
