We started our expedition on the foot of Alcedo Volcano in the western side of Isabela Island. It was a nice warm morning with a soft breeze with sea birds foraging all around. Most of them were blue-footed boobies, cormorants and penguins. Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos. So big that the rest of the islands put together will not match its size!
It was a wet landing at Urbina bay on a black sandy beach, nesting ground for the pacific green sea turtle. This is the breeding season and we can see nests on any sandy area. This population of turtles happens to be the largest of the Pacific Ocean. Some of these turtles spend their lives foraging in these nutrient rich waters in western Galápagos. Others move to mainland South America and Central America.
Once we landed we started exploring Isabela. Here we encountered large flocks of Darwin’s finches some feeding off the ground and others off the bushes. Moments later we entered the land iguanas’ territory. We found several males and females iguanas basking in the sun some were still in their burrows. It seems that these reptiles have a very relaxed schedule!
In the afternoon we explored a different place. This location is called Tagus Cove and it is a marvelous landscape with high cliffs and sea birds perching on the rocky ledges. Some of us went kayaking and there were many surprises along the way. We spotted sea turtles, flightless cormorants, great blue herons and penguins.
Tagus Cove is also a great snorkeling site! This place is a foraging ground for penguins and cormorants. We saw some of these birds swimming fast as they chased fish. There are also sea turtles feeding on seaweeds that grow on the rocks of the sea floor and others resting on the bottom. This place is indeed a different world with special life forms each of them not scared of humans. It is a very special feeling being surrounded by all these fearless creatures!
