Fernandina and Isabela, located on the westernmost side of the Galapagos archipelago, are the youngest islands of them all. Located only a few hundred kilometers away from the hot spot, these two islands remain volcanically active and have eruptions constantly.
In the morning, Fernandina welcomed us with a big colony of marine iguanas at the landing area. At this time of the year, iguana hatchlings are beginning to emerge out of the nests, so we kept an eye out for their natural predator, the snake. They remain well-hidden, but we did manage to find one hiding in the crevices, waiting for its prey.
To walk among the lava in Fernandina is like going back in time; lava cactuses have colonized the bare flows and are making the very first fertile soils, where other species of vegetation can eventually be successful.
Snorkeling, a unique opportunity to share the waters with the Pacific green sea turtles that inhabit the area, was probably one of the greatest experiences of the week. The tameness of these creatures was contagious, and made us all relax and enjoy the water activity at its fullest.
The productivity of the waters around here is caused by an abundance of nutrients, brought here by the cold counter current of Cromwell that hits the islands at the very base and up-wells to the surface. The up-welling is, in this case, responsible for the abundance of marine wildlife found in Isabela and Fernandina, and from here, the nutrient-rich water spreads into the central part of the archipelago.
In the afternoon, we took a Zodiac ride along the coast of Isabela Island. The calming afternoon lighting, together with the magnificent volcanic landscape, filled us with equatorial energy as we enjoyed the sunset and a glass of wine!
