With the ship still moving, we
started our day with early cetacean watching. A small group of common dolphins
showed up and for most of the trip, we enjoy the landscape and some seabirds
along with the traditional crossing of the Equator line. Anchored at Punta
Vicente Roca on Isabela, our first outing started with a Zodiac ride to admire
the imposing geology and the various animals that live here. We found
flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, large marine iguanas, and a good
number of Pacific green turtles which feed and rest in this area.
Later, we set out for some
snorkeling and encountered an amazing variety of life from small invertebrates
on the submarine walls to large schools of fish of all kinds. Turtles were at
their cleaning stations, getting a full service from different fish like king
angelfish and grunts.
Sea lions swam up to you and iguanas
were on their way to and from feeding. One could also observe penguins catching
almost invisible fish and more! It’s just amazing that all this happens only
inches from our faces. Indescribable.
In the afternoon we enjoyed one of the incredible pristine islands of the Galapagos, Fernandina. Walking for less than half a mile we saw large iguana colonies, sea lion pups playing among themselves, and birds resting or hunting. All of it framed by the most savage landscape with fresh lava and plants initiating colonization.
