Isabela and Fernandina Islands, 12/7/2022, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
Galapagos is an archipelago formed by more than 300 islands, islets, rocks, and volcanoes. Some of the volcanoes are still active. Every couple of years, we observe volcanic activity.
After an overnight navigation, we woke up in the western part of the Galapagos this morning to look for whales, seabirds, and impressive geology formations.
Walter was born in a very small town on the mainland of Ecuador. His first trip to the Galápagos was when he was 12 years old, visiting friends and aunt, who had moved to the islands. From the first moment he saw the Islands, he fell in love with the...
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Early this morning we had a dry landing on North Seymour Island. This island originated as an uplifted tuff cone and is famous for being the marine bird island. We had a great excursion and were surrounded by blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, a swallow-tailed gull (the only nocturnal gull), and very arid vegetation. It was an amazing morning. To finish the day, we headed towards Rábida Island. We were impressed by the unique red colored sandy beach, which is due to its rich iron-oxide content. We finally explored the underwater world of the Galapagos here and then finished the day taking a relaxing walk along the beach and a salt-water lagoon which was occupied by a small flamboyance of flamingos.
On our second expedition day, we visited the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. We started our day exploring lava tunnels and then two volcanic formations known as Los Gemelos, surrounded by a forest of Scalesia pedunculata. This is the habitat of many different species of land birds, including Darwin finches. We visited a local farm where the owner, Don Adriano, explained the different methods of being self-sufficient on an island, including his traditional sugar cane press and his coffee plantation. We continued our expedition visiting one of the most iconic species of the archipelago, the Galapagos giant tortoise, in their natural habitat. Then we explored the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center and the Charles Darwin Research Station where we learned about the different projects they are developing in the Galapagos. It was a wonderful day!
Our day began with a mesmerizing exploration of Roca Redonda and Punta Vicente Roca. The morning sun cast a golden glow on the towering cliffs that define this part of Isabela Island. We navigated along the coast, observing the diverse marine life that thrives in these nutrient-rich waters. Notable encounters included playful Galapagos sea lions, elegant flightless cormorants, and sea turtles. Snorkeling enthusiasts were treated to a world beneath the waves and non snorkelers saw just as much from our glass-bottom Zodiac. In the afternoon, our expedition led us to the pristine shores of Fernandina Island. This uninhabited island is a haven for wildlife. The highlights were undoubtedly the iconic Galapagos marine iguanas basking on black lava rocks. As we carefully navigated the island's trails, we marveled at the otherworldly landscapes shaped by ongoing volcanic activity. A sighting of a Galapagos hawk soaring overhead added a touch of wild majesty to our exploration. The sense of isolation and raw nature in these untouched Galapagos corners reminded us of the importance of preserving these ecosystems. Our journey continues tomorrow, promising new wonders in this extraordinary archipelago.