Galapagos Islands – Isabela and Fernandina | Sharon and Lee

Day 2 Oct 27 2012

Overview || Day 1 – North Seymour || Day 3 Isabela Island – Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove || Day 4 – Rabida Island and Santa Cruz – Cerro Dragon || Day 5 Santa Cruz and Puerto Ayora || Day 6 Floreana – Post office Bay and Punta Cormorant || Day 7 – Santa Fe and South Plaza || Isabela Island Day Trips || Santa Cruz Day Trips || Sierra Negra

Punta Flores

Since there is no landing site at this location, the coastal exploration is by dinghy, while the naturalist guide explains the dramatic geology of the area with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers. This is the nesting place for flightless cormorants, the only existing marine birds in the world other than penguins that have changed their condition of flying birds to diving birds. Wildlife here also includes sea lions, Galápagos fur seals, Galápagos penguins, blue-footed and Nazca boobies and noddy terns. Depending on the conditions of the ocean, it will be possible to schedule a snorkeling outing along the cliffs of partly-sunken Ecuador Volcano, near the northern tip of Isabela Island. This area has a very rich marine life, and is seasonally visited by green sea turtles. Lunch on board.

Punta Espinosa– Click to see the afternoon excursion

In the afternoon, visit the youngest island of the archipelago, Fernandina. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk over dark lava. Fernandina boasts a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. There will be a briefing and dinner in the evening.

We wake up on the North West tip of Isabela Island. Much like every morning to soft classical music and a soft voice resonating over the din of the generators that breakfast will be served on the deck.

We eat at 7:30 each morning and leave at 8:30 for the morning activities.

Today we cruise by Panga along the rocky coast of Punta Flores

We check out a cool cave where we can see Sea Tortoises and ‘Gringo Fish’… they reflect red out of the water like Gringo’s after a couple of days in the hot Ecuador sun!

Along the rock wall we see:

Boobies and Frigates

Flightless Comorants

Marine Iguana’s

Penguins

Sea Lions and Iguana’s chilling on the same rock.

We return from the Panga ride. A Sea Lion decides to sleep on the deck.

We come back to get our snorkling gear to see our cool towels

Back in the water where we see Sea Tortoises and other colourful fish. The water here was murkier due to currents and rich organic life, it was also only about 21oC

Then we’re back on board for Lunch. Jose the assistant chef

I don’t think we were eating the Boobies, just some local fish

and dessert

Then we choose our dinner

Punta Vicente Roca – Isla Isabela – Galapagos from Lee Lau on Vimeo.

While we are eating lunch La Pinta moves to our afternoon location Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island, the youngest island at 700,000 years old. It consists manly of a’a’ lava with few plant species. One plant is the Lava Cactus. Fernandina can only be visited by cruise ship due to its remote location and lack of habitation. Specifically at Punta Espinosa.

We arrive at Mangrove lined beach on Fernandina Island