We dropped anchor early this morning at Urbina Bay. After breakfast, we embarked our Zodiacs for the next adventure. Calm waters and a clear blue sky were welcomed the guests of the National Geographic Endeavour. We landed at a black sandy beach and headed inland for a hike through the cotton and poison apple forest. There were many Darwin finches singing and flying around us, as well as a friendly Galapagos flycatcher that posed for the photographers! However, the most surprising part of the morning was our encounter with giant tortoises from Alcedo Volcano! A young female giant tortoise was spotted first, then a young male appeared, followed by a very young one! One of the giant tortoises decided to show us the path, and we slowly followed until it took a turn and went into the lush vegetation of this visitor site. Due to the lack of clouds, the sun was intense, and there was little shade available—we really experienced the tropics in all its grandeur! The Galapagos land iguanas were looking for the best shady spots, and after this great experience we were very happy to go back to the beach and refresh in the water.
Today the water was cooler, 71 degrees Fahrenheit! The upwelling from the Crownwell Current brings nutrients, plankton and a lot of oxygen to the area, and because of this, the waters between the islands of Isabela and Fernandina are considered the most productive in the Galapagos Archipelago.
The meals on board the ship are very good, and this lunch was extra special, as Ecuadorian dishes were prepared. What an excellent variety of food, fruits and desserts—it was a delicious meal! The ship was repositioned towards Tagus Cove, a calm area inside the heart of a tuff volcano. A number of options were offered for the afternoon, including kayaking, snorkeling, Zodiac rides and hiking. This area is a common congregation spot for penguins, flightless cormorants, sea lions, pelicans, brown noddies, and this afternoon was no exception! The snorkeling was our best outing so far! Not even the cooler water stopped our guests from enjoying this fantastic snorkeling site, and they were rewarded with sightings of Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, a big Galapagos shark, huge schools of silvery fish, colorful sea stars and razor surgeonfish!
Our hikers also had a fantastic afternoon, for the trek to the view point of Tagus Cove was spectacular. The landscape was breathtaking, the vegetation green and lush, the light remarkable, the shield volcanoes of Isabela Island all around us—what a sight!
After dinner we ended the day with star gazing at the bow. The conditions were great and we used the opportunity to show the constellations from both the northern and the southern hemisphere, something that is only possible here at the Equator! Galapagos is full of surprises and nothing can prepare you for this trip. Tomorrow we are heading to Santiago Island—the adventure continues!
