A drastic contrast is encountered as we awaken close to Fernandina Island in the western realm of the archipelago. A deep blue sky is a backdrop for the massive volcano La Cumbre, which is the shield volcano of Fernandina. This barren island is home to one of the largest populations of marine iguanas in Galapagos. Marine iguanas slowly make their way to the water to feed as they warm up and become active. Young sea lion pups play in the shallows and a Galapagos hawk soars just over our heads. Galapagos penguins flit about along the coast as Pacific green sea turtles feed in the tidal pools. This “barren” island is vibrantly alive with activity! Afternoon arrives along with our navigation to northern Isabela. Flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins are found along the coast of Punta Vicente Roca as we explore. A massive cliff is before us showing this area’s violent volcanic past as we eventually bring our Zodiacs aboard and head north, crossing the Equatorial line as the sun finishes its duty of the day and sets.
10/3/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartholomew Island and Sombrero Chino
We split into groups for different excursions this morning. Four groups went up the staircase to the top for the iconic view over the isthmus of Bartholomew Island and Pinnacle Rock. We walked past exposed volcanic formations of all sorts: spatter cones, tuff cones, and lava tubes. Two other groups chose to explore along the coast by Zodiac in hopes of Galapagos penguin sightings. All of us were successful in what we hoped for and even the walkers saw penguins near the dock where we disembarked! Both snorkeling off the beach and deep-water outings along the backside of the island were tremendously productive because we saw it all: penguins and sharks being the top species, and diving blue-footed boobies too! The afternoon had National Geographic Endeavour II anchored not too far south, off the coast of Santiago Island near Sombrero Chino. A dramatically barren, small volcanic cone where another snorkeling outing was offered and late-afternoon Zodiac rides to search yet one more time for penguins. We can never get enough of them!