Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove, Isabela Island, 11/22/2022, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
Isabela Island is the largest island in the Galapagos archipelago. Five huge shield volcanoes make up the island’s backbone. Starting from the north, the volcanoes are Wolf, Darwin, Alcedo, Sierra Negra, and Cerro Azul. These massive volcanoes are all active. Every three years or so, one of the volcanoes erupts.
Salvador Cazar studied biology at the Universidad Nacional Del Sur, Bahía Blanca, in Argentina and at the Catholic University of Ecuador. Between 1988 and 1994, Salvador worked as a naturalist and tour leader for several national and international to...
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Today, we visited the western Galapagos Islands. The black, rugged coastline is evidence of the youth of Isabela Island, and we immediately felt like we had entered a new world. This morning, we explored the beautiful mangrove ecosystem of Elizabeth Bay by Zodiac and kayaks. Mangroves are typical of tropical locations, but here they are the habitat of the endemic Galapagos penguins. What a unique combination! At Punta Moreno, we explored an inland trail leading to a brackish pond where a couple of American flamingos gave a splash of color to this vast field of young, black lava. This jagged shoreline is home to the largest number of marine iguanas in the Galapagos. At this time of day, we observed them warming themselves up on the black lava. We watched endemic flightless cormorants prey upon octopuses and eels, making us feel like we were within a documentary. Galapagos never ceases to amaze us and wake up our inner naturalist!
The anchor dropping was our early wake-up call. After breakfast, groups started activities in Buccaneer Cove, a well-known site on Santiago Island since the 17th and 18th centuries, taking its name from the fact that pirates, buccaneers, and later whalers used this bay as an anchorage to supply their vessels, look for fresh water in higher parts of the island, and catch giant tortoises for food. Several of us went kayaking while others went for a Zodiac ride. Later, a group went snorkeling and some guests enjoyed a glass bottom boat ride. At noon, our National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Global Explorers designed some fish of their own imaginations. In the afternoon, we visited James Bay where some of us hiked and observed Galapagos fur seals, sea lions, and shore birds. Others strolled, swam, and played at the beach. What a wonderful and relaxing day in paradise!
As the early morning rays began to peek over the cone spattered profile of Floreana Island, our early bird guests woke to greet the day with a kayak excursion and Zodiac cruise along the shores. During their exploration, guests encountered juvenile blacktip sharks, marine turtles, rays, sleepy sea lions, and many birds, including a rare sighting of the white tern! After a delicious breakfast in the Beagle Grill, everyone headed out to further explore Post Office Bay, the lands where whalers, pirates, and the first colonizers of Galapagos explored. The group visited the ingenious Post Office barrel to continue a long existing tradition of hand delivering mail around the world. Afterward, we went deep into the earth (~30m) via a lava tunnel to explore the beautiful geological formations created by volcanoes. The day was far from over, as these were only the morning activities. After lunch everyone enjoyed a spectacular snorkel at Champion Islet where they encountered colorful reef fish, sea lions, rainbow runners, and more. A peaceful walk around Punta Cormorant at sunset to view flamingos and a storytelling session of the human history from Gaby after dinner, was the perfect way to finish a beautiful day.
