Isabela and Fernandina Islands
Today we got the best of the western side of the Galapagos Islands. We had an early start: common dolphins came to join us just before breakfast! We had arrived to Bolivar Canal between our two youngest islands: Fernandina and Isabela. Bolivar Canal has the deepest and coldest waters of the Galapagos. Cromwell current is a deep water current coming from the west which reaches this canal, crashes against the islands and upwells. The cold waters bring a lot of nutrients to the area. With the cold waters you can imagine penguins in the Galapagos! As well as fur seals and whales… well we got them all today!
We crossed the equatorial line with a ceremony where our guests became official shellbacks. And then we were ready to go explore the shores of Isabela Island with a zodiac ride: Sea turtles, giant marine iguanas, penguins and cormorants were spotted. As we left the shore some of us were able to find the weird looking oceanic sun fish or Mola mola. Snorkeling was outstanding with penguins and turtles!
This afternoon we moved to Fernandina Island. The place is magical! New lava fields have the most beautiful lava shapes which get covered with hundreds of marine iguanas! We walked on Espinoza Point. This is the only visitor’s site of this pristine island. Flightless cormorants were nesting and drying their atrophied wings a couple of feet from us. Sea lions were nursing tiny babies as if we were not there! The top land predator of the Galapagos came to join us just at sunset. Finally we were able to spot at the distant whales and dolphins travelling on Bolivar Canal!
And this is just one full day on the islands!
