Isabela & Fernandina Islands
The first rays of light at sunrise were so beautiful today that I had a delightful and deep feeling that we would have a day to remember. I am thrilled to inform to you that my feelings were well-founded! Just a few minutes after looking in the horizon we spotted a Bryde’s or tropical whale. After this great sighting we all gathered around the bridge area to participate in an amusing ceremony, the crossing of the Equator. Official certificates were given to each one of the newly baptized “shellbacks,” a traditional maritime term given to those who crossed the Equator for the very first time on a ship. “Pollywogs” is what most of our guests were before crossing the famous line this morning. The ship was then pointed in the direction of Punta Vicente Roca, located on the southwestern most tip of Isabela Island.
Just at the very moment we arrived at our anchoring place we had a wonderful surprise! A pod of bottlenose dolphins crossed just in front of the ship. Right away I made an announcement over the PA system that put everybody onboard on the move: “Dear friends the fun never ends…dolphins have been spotted, so get ready for we disembark to see them as soon as possible.”
Our fleet of Zodiacs was lowered in a matter of just few minutes, and we all eagerly proceeded to board. What happened next is as close to a dream as you can imagine. For a long time the cheerful dolphins were leaping out of the water in front of the Zodiacs competing with the joy we were all experiencing. It is hard for me to find the right words to best illustrate our excitement – Wow! After this surreal encounter, we went to explore the underwater and snorkeled with dozens of sea turtles and Galápagos penguins.
The afternoon was nearly as good as the morning. We visited one of the most pristine and beautiful islands in the whole world, Fernandina. We felt like we were back in time, immersed inside the most extraordinary living nature documentary. Hundreds of marine iguanas and many sea lions were observed basking in the sun. These creatures merged with the new black lava flows characteristic of the surroundings of Punta Espinoza, our visitors’ site. A warm sun accompanied by a cool breeze formed a perfect tandem with the adjacent blue waters, all factors that tremendously enhanced the quality of our walk. Reluctantly we came back onboard with a spectacular sunset that marked the end of an unforgettable day in the inspiring and fascinating Galápagos Islands.
