Blogs from Fernandina Island, Galápagos, Ecuador, South America

This day was divided between Fernandina and Isabela islands. Fernandina (Narborough) Island is the youngest and most volcanically active of the islands. It began erupting a couple of day after we left. Most of it is not open to visitors because of unsafe conditions, but we were able to visit Punta Espinoza. Our walk was over rough lava and sand through areas of tidal pools. Perhaps the most striking thing of the morning walk was the sea lion pups. We saw them nursing, playing together while their mothers were out fishing, and in one case an adventurous pup tried repeatedly to get to open water, while his mother repeatedly blocked his path. Eventually, she held him down with one flipper as they exchanged words. I am not fluent in sea lion, but I am pretty sure ... read more

Monday started with the excited voice of God announcing over the PA system that there was a whale on the starboard side. Before 6am it’s not always evident which side is the starboard, however we did find it and were treated to the back of a huge whale meters away from the boat. It was really too early to absorb the details of this beast, even what kind of whale it was, however we were assured that it was rare. We saw the elusive Rare Whale. Having washed and dressed by 8, we went by Zodiac to Punta Espinoza where we walked on huge lava flows that were teeming with the sinister appearing but gentle marine iguanas, as well as sea lions, lava lizards, and flightless cormorants. The experience defies adequate description, at least by me, ... read more