Isabela & Fernandina Island
When the day began we saw the sun rise on the horizon and the last stars disappearing behind its bright light. I felt blessed today, though not yet even fully awake, as I strolled along the decks of the ship watching those last stars fade in the sky. I encountered many guests, no more awake than I was, who were already topside too. We all admired the beautiful landscape at “Roca Redonda” or round rock, which is located at the northern tip of Isabella Island. This impressive volcanic rock with its magnificent steep cliffs is nesting habitat for hundreds of sea birds of different species. Leaping among the feeding sea birds was a pod of about thirty bottlenose dolphins.
Later in the morning, after crossing the equatorial line, the sight of Ecuador Volcano enchanted us. Viewing this half collapsed volcano we could practically imagine Galápagos as a land of fire, emerging from the depths of the sea with the power of creation. These islands were formed over hundreds of thousands of years of volcanic activity and became the perfect environment for the varied sea and land species that chanced to arrive here.
We finished our morning outings traveling by Zodiacs along the spectacular red cliffs at Punta Vicente Roca. We encountered several species of sea birds, sea turtles, sea lions, fur seals and huge marine iguanas.
The afternoon visit to the island of Fernandina was delightful, too. Fernandina is a huge shield volcano, similar to the ones found in Hawaii. It is adorned with green vegetation, mostly mangroves, along the coastline. To this picture, add sea lions, marine iguanas, penguins and flightless cormorants…and presto, an enchanting and unusual place like no where else on this earth.
After such a magnificent day, I was just hoping for the perfect ending. The sun provided this for me, once again. In a glow of orange and pink it disappeared behind the black lava slopes of Fernandina and returned what it had been hiding behind its bright light. Slowly the first stars twinkled and now they cover the entire Galápagos sky.
When the day began we saw the sun rise on the horizon and the last stars disappearing behind its bright light. I felt blessed today, though not yet even fully awake, as I strolled along the decks of the ship watching those last stars fade in the sky. I encountered many guests, no more awake than I was, who were already topside too. We all admired the beautiful landscape at “Roca Redonda” or round rock, which is located at the northern tip of Isabella Island. This impressive volcanic rock with its magnificent steep cliffs is nesting habitat for hundreds of sea birds of different species. Leaping among the feeding sea birds was a pod of about thirty bottlenose dolphins.
Later in the morning, after crossing the equatorial line, the sight of Ecuador Volcano enchanted us. Viewing this half collapsed volcano we could practically imagine Galápagos as a land of fire, emerging from the depths of the sea with the power of creation. These islands were formed over hundreds of thousands of years of volcanic activity and became the perfect environment for the varied sea and land species that chanced to arrive here.
We finished our morning outings traveling by Zodiacs along the spectacular red cliffs at Punta Vicente Roca. We encountered several species of sea birds, sea turtles, sea lions, fur seals and huge marine iguanas.
The afternoon visit to the island of Fernandina was delightful, too. Fernandina is a huge shield volcano, similar to the ones found in Hawaii. It is adorned with green vegetation, mostly mangroves, along the coastline. To this picture, add sea lions, marine iguanas, penguins and flightless cormorants…and presto, an enchanting and unusual place like no where else on this earth.
After such a magnificent day, I was just hoping for the perfect ending. The sun provided this for me, once again. In a glow of orange and pink it disappeared behind the black lava slopes of Fernandina and returned what it had been hiding behind its bright light. Slowly the first stars twinkled and now they cover the entire Galápagos sky.
