Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island and Punta Espinosa, Fernandina Island
Early in the morning we arrived at the northern part of Isabela Island. Dolphins welcomed us in our navigation, as we arrived to Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island. The morning was spectacular and we could see the slopes of Wolf Volcano and the rest of the large monsters that form Isabela. A sunny morning began after the sunrise and it brought us into one of the most pristine islands of the Galápagos archipelago. After that we crossed the line of the equator, and we headed into a small anchorage area nearby. Our first activity of the day was a Zodiac ride along the coastline, looking for some of the endemic seabirds of the Galápagos Islands: the flightless cormorant and the Galápagos penguin. Along the way, we went into a small protected bay where several marine turtles swam and occasionally reached the surface, showing their heads. The numerous turtles were an example of the richness of the area. Our snorkeling activities followed suit, as the water was less cold than previous weeks. The hot season is beginning.
In the afternoon we visited Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island, where we were welcomed by several marine iguanas, which sneezed every now and then, and they were preparing for their breading season. All of them were facing the sun. A pair of young sea lions played with each other while a female nursed its pup nearby, with the incredible background of the Fernandina volcano. The slopes of this volcano are barren, after a recent eruption that formed our visiting site. The flightless cormorants were returning from fishing and turtles were also seen in the water.
As we returned onboard, a wonderful sunset finished another wonderful day in Paradise...
