The Galapagos Islands are a sanctuary for many animal species, and today we got a true impression of that as we visited west Isabela Island. The first adventure of the day was at Urbina bay by Alcedo volcano. After a wet landing on the beach, we came upon a large number of marine iguanas, whose impressive size amazed us as they fed on the algae found in the up dwelling area of this island.
Farther into the trail, we were able to spot large brain coral heads located several meters inland—a consequence of an older uplifting process. The first land iguana of the morning appeared as we explored the inner coast line. The brilliance of this place was apparent, in a symphony of land bird songs, vivid vegetation colors, and a plethora of reptile displays. At the end of the hike, we enjoyed a nice swim in the beach before returning to the National Geographic Endeavour to move to our next destination: Tagus Cove.
Home to whalers, refuge to pirates, Tagus cove is one of the most historical places in the entire archipelago. Our first excursion was deep water snorkeling along the cliffs of an old tuff cone. As we came into the water, the marvels of the ocean were revealed to us. Reef fishes of multiple colors surrounded us, and green sea turtles looked on gently as they rested at the bottom. However, the most impressive show was given by the Galapagos penguins, as they practically flew through the water around us.
Our exploration of the day was completed with a hike all the way up Darwin Lake. The splendor of land nature in this region was on display as we arrived to the area. Farther up the steps, we enjoyed a spectacular view of Darwin Lake, with Darwin Volcano standing magnificently in the background, as various land birds flew by. At the end of the trail, we had a marvelous view of the northern volcanoes as the sun set behind the dominant figure of Fernandina Island. The marvels of the Galapagos Islands could captivate any explorer that witnesses its wonders.
