Isabela & Fernandina Islands
Our day stared with an early wake up call from our Expedition Leader Carlos Romero through out the PA system, telling us that the ship was approaching Roca Redonda. This geological formation is the tip of a gigantic underwater mountain that goes down to 9,000 feet in depth! While our Captain Juan Robalino was circumnavigating the rock we could observe hundreds of sea birds: blue-footed boobies, Noddy terns, Nazca boobies, red billed tropic birds, storm petrels, swallow tail gulls, and shearwaters among other species.
After the circumnavigation the National Geographic Polaris headed south to our next destination, Punta Vicente Roca. In the meantime, we crossed the Equator Line. Punta Vicente Roca is a remote place where our guests had the chance to explore the dramatic and spectacular geologic formations of the coastline of the northeastern side of the Isabela Island. From our Zodiac fleet we observed at close range many animal species, Flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, Galápagos sea lions, boobies, brown pelicans, marine iguanas and the Ocean sunfish (Mola mola). After the Zodiac rides we went into the water for snorkeling. We had great views of Pacific green sea turtles and some snorkelers had the thrill of swimming with Galapagos penguins!
Later in the afternoon the ship was repositioned to the next island, Fernandina. We visited a place called Punta Espinoza. This fascinating site is our entrance to one of the most pristine islands on our planet. Being on Fernandina Island is just like going back in time. It is like watching the very beginning of the Galápagos Islands. A beautiful sunset was a golden finale to another wonderful day we spent in this paradise in the Pacific Ocean, the Enchanted Islands.
