Today we had a marvelous experience at the living paradise of the Galápagos Islands. An early hike in order to enjoy the wonders of Fernandina Island was the best way to begin explorating. The marvels of the place overwhelmed us, with the impressive shield volcanoes as the perfect decoration for a magnificent landscape. Farther into the trail, a big aggregation of marine iguanas were the perfect contrast with the young lava that is found at Punta Espinosa. The main attraction was the flightless cormorants that were drying their feathers as they came out of the water. Sally lightfoot crabs were the perfect color contrast as they easily hid in the lava rocks. As we reached the farthest point of the area, we were delighted by the magical view that lava cactus makes against lava rocks.
As soon as we came back on board the National Geographic Endeavour there was no time to waste, so we got ready in order to sail to our next destination: Punta Vicente Roca. Deep water snorkeling was going to be the next chapter of exploration. The amount of reef fish was definitely magical. Pacific green sea turtles with Galápagos sea lions were the perfect company for the stunned snorkelers. The highlight of the moment was the magic color combination of the amount of reef fishes found in the area.
As soon as the activity was over it was time for the next adventure: a marvelous Zodiac ride. Being surrounded by the cliffs of Ecuador’s volcano at Punta Vicente Roca was something extraordinary. During the visit, several endemic species were the inspiration for our senses: flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, Galápagos sea lions, and sea turtles were the impeccable sonata of nature as we enjoyed the volcanic structures that are found in the area. At the end of this fantastic journey, we enjoyed a charming sunset as we crossed the equator line. Days may pass by, and years might be gone, but the Galápagos Islands will never leave our hearts.
