Northern Isabela & Fernandina Islands
Our expedition took us to the western side of the archipelago. Early, at 6:30 a.m., we met at the bridge to be witness to a wonderful sunrise through the volcanoes of Isabela Island.
After a buffet breakfast we were ready to ask Neptune King’s permission to cross the Equator line. As we navigated towards the eroded volcano of Ecuador, the naturalists pointed out the exposed caldera floor, recent lava flows and near by tuff cones. Our day was just beginning, and we boarded the pangas for a fantastic ride along the coast. There were sea turtles all around, flightless cormorants, puffer fish, common noddy terns, pelicans, marine iguanas, and sea lions. And then we found what we had hoped to find! The mola molas or sun fish, and what incredible sea creatures they are!
We returned to the ship for lunch, a short siesta, and an informative lecture about the Galápagos’ most famous visitor: Charles Darwin.
The National Geographic Islander arrived at our next destination: Fernandina, a jewel of an island and the youngest one of the archipelago. We explored the pristine world of the Galápagos, walking on lava flows where only a few pioneer species, such as lava cactus and mangroves, had established. There were thousands of giant marine iguanas along the trail, lava lizards running between our feet, flightless cormorants nesting, a Galápagos hawk flying overhead, and all this against the impressive backdrop landscape of “La Cumbre” Volcano. We came back on board with the last light of the day; there is no time to waste when you are in paradise!
Our expedition took us to the western side of the archipelago. Early, at 6:30 a.m., we met at the bridge to be witness to a wonderful sunrise through the volcanoes of Isabela Island.
After a buffet breakfast we were ready to ask Neptune King’s permission to cross the Equator line. As we navigated towards the eroded volcano of Ecuador, the naturalists pointed out the exposed caldera floor, recent lava flows and near by tuff cones. Our day was just beginning, and we boarded the pangas for a fantastic ride along the coast. There were sea turtles all around, flightless cormorants, puffer fish, common noddy terns, pelicans, marine iguanas, and sea lions. And then we found what we had hoped to find! The mola molas or sun fish, and what incredible sea creatures they are!
We returned to the ship for lunch, a short siesta, and an informative lecture about the Galápagos’ most famous visitor: Charles Darwin.
The National Geographic Islander arrived at our next destination: Fernandina, a jewel of an island and the youngest one of the archipelago. We explored the pristine world of the Galápagos, walking on lava flows where only a few pioneer species, such as lava cactus and mangroves, had established. There were thousands of giant marine iguanas along the trail, lava lizards running between our feet, flightless cormorants nesting, a Galápagos hawk flying overhead, and all this against the impressive backdrop landscape of “La Cumbre” Volcano. We came back on board with the last light of the day; there is no time to waste when you are in paradise!
