National Geographic Endeavour II arrived at the west coast of Isabela Island early in the morning, and we began our visit to Urbina Bay. After a wet landing, a trail of lush vegetation gave us the opportunity to find various species of Darwin’s finches flying and eating on the ground. While we walked along this trail we noticed the presence of marine remnants, like seashells, as this part of Isabela was abruptly uplifted about fifteen feet in 1954. This site is a great spot for finding land iguanas near the trail, as early in the morning they are warming up their bodies on the land. Then we encountered the biggest surprise: Galapagos giant tortoises walking and resting along the sandy trail. After this interesting hike, we had time to enjoy the beach of Urbina Bay.
Next we sailed toward our second visiting site, Tagus Cove, which is also on the west side of Isabela Island. This protected cove is a perfect site to enjoy different activities, and we had a great time kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking in this area. Some guests also enjoyed a pleasant Zodiac ride looking for the amazing Galapagos penguins, which spend the afternoon resting on the rocks. During this ride we also were able to take great pictures of blue-footed boobies and flightless cormorants.
In the late afternoon, we returned to the ship and enjoyed a fantastic sunset!
