After an easy and calm night passed, we woke up north of Isabela Island, a fantastic place to watch for marine life.
In the early morning, many of our guests gathered on the bow of National Geographic Islander II. Soon, they observed Galapagos shearwaters, Galapagos petrels (a vulnerable species due to introduced animals), wedge-rumped petrels, red-necked phalaropes, boobies, etc.
In the month of December, marine currents change. Warm currents coming from Panama are taking over the islands, and this produces a strange phenomenon whereby mist covers the islands, making them seem to disappear little by little…hence the nickname, “Enchanted Islands.”
Soon we crossed the equator. Our guests were very happy to become “shellbacks,” a sailing tradition for those who pass the equator on a ship for the first time.
Punta Vicente Roca has been called the best place on the planet to swim with Pacific green sea turtles. We also observed Galapagos penguins, cormorants, and various fish.
In the afternoon, we enjoyed lunch, a talk on Charles Darwin, and a siesta to recover energy. We visited Fernandina, the youngest island in the Galapagos, and we observed many marine iguanas, sea lions, cormorants, and turtles resting on the beach.
Our day ended with a colorful sunset. What a fantastic day.
