Galapagos Day 6 - Fernandina

The Yacht only needed to move a little to cross the straight that separates the western coast of Isabella from the eastern coast of Fernandina Island.  Fernandina is the westernmost of the Galapagos Islands and still volcanically active.  So the voyage to bring us to our anchorage for this morning’s trip to Punta Espinoza was one of our shortest to date.

On the shore for 7:30am we went in search of Marine Iguanas, Lava Lizards, Galapagos (flightless) Cormorants and sea lions amongst others.  Along the way I spotted the Sally Lightfoot Crab and thought that would make a good blip for the day.

By 10am we were getting ready to go snorkelling off one of the reefs, where the main attraction was watching the Marine Iguanas forage for food underwater - they are vegetarian and graze below the surface.

The yacht left Ferdinandina crossing back to Isabella and on the way there was great excitement when we spotted a Short Finned Pilot Whale. By lunchtime the yacht had reached Punta Vincente Roja a bay formed by a former caldera.  Unfortunately for us the weather had turned quite windy and the planned voyage in the pangas next to the towering cliff faces looking for nesting wildlife was curtailed after about half an hour, those in charge feeling that it was getting a little dangerous.

Weighing anchor (look at me with the nautical terms) we set sail for our next destination, Santiago Island.  But on the way we crossed back into the Northern Hemisphere - there was accordingly a little celebration to mark the crossing of the equator.  We were all invited into the wheelhouse, where we watched the yacht’s instruments confirm the actual crossing.  Then there was a toast with a special cocktail and we sang songs as our guide led the group in various sea shanties on his guitar.

The extras include a Marine Iguana, a Pelican looking for all the world like a pterodactyl and finally a Galapagos Shearwater.