Galápagos - Isabela Island

In addition to the usual activities being offered today, there was also a ‘power group’ activity for two teams, whoever signed up first. Adam immediately signed us up last night and so this morning at 6.15am there we were hiking up Caleta Tagus on Isabela Island to get the views over Darwin Lake as the sun was rising. We did the hike at a fast pace, whereas the other regular groups were doing it at a more leisurely pace. The area was once used by pirates and has some inscriptions etched onto the cliff face that go back to those days. When we hiked down again and got to the zodiac, we could not put on our life jackets as the railing where we had left them hanging now had two juvenile Galapagos hawks who were pecking away at the life jackets! I think they thought they were snakes! They sat there for a long time, and we had to try and chase them away so that we could retrieve our life jackets - with their powerful talons and sharp beaks they are not to be taken too lightly! It was thrilling seeing them so close up.

Back at the boat by 7.30am we had breakfast, and then set off on our next ‘power team’ activity - kayaking along the edge of the bay. It was about a 2 mile kayak and we could certainly feel it in our arms and shoulders, particularly as we were against the wind with waves slapping into the front of the kayak. We saw many juvenile brown pelicans, marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins swimming, sea lions, green turtles and flightless cormorants. We kayaked for well over an hour, and then it was back to the boat, with just enough time for a cappuccino before going out again to go snorkelling. Today I decided to stop being such a ninny and try the deep water snorkelling - sod’s law I chose the day when the water was at its coldest, it was about 16C/17C and I usually only ever swim in heated pools with a comfortable temperature of about 27C, so when I got into the water it was an absolute shock, I could barely catch my breath. We were all wearing short wetsuits, but mine was not tight enough and so I felt the cold as it was not insulating enough.m. Adam was the only one swimming with no wetsuit…he does not feel the cold. I did not stay in the water as long as all the others in our group, three of us got out first and wrapped in towels we sat on the zodiac warming up. I was pleased I did it as I swam with green turtles which was incredible - Adam followed a group of penguins swimming but they were too quick for him, they are extremely fast and agile under water

After a hot shower and lunch I felt ready for the next activity. After a delicious lunch there was a lecture on identifying marine life (there are two lectures every day), and then we went off on a zodiac cruise to Elizabeth Bay on Isabela Island . Before I came to Galapagos I had heard all about the land animals, but what I did not expect was the incredible volcanic geology here, the rock formations are so fascinating. Of course there under water life is also extensive, there is more to see below the water than above it. Yesterday when we visited Punta Espinosa, I forgot to mention that that is where David Attenborough filmed the well known scene of the snakes chasing the larva lizards. We went into narrow coves amongst the mangrove trees and saw so many turtles, it was incredible.

The food on the boat is superb. The Ecudorians also serve ceviche, but instead of being pieces of raw fish in a citrus marinade, here it is more of a soup, with tiny pieces of fish and much more citrus sauce, and they serve it with popcorn and plantain crisps! We are eating so much fish, it is such a treat - they serve amberjack, swordfish, scorpion fish, octopus and seafood. There is also a sweet and juicy white pineapple that is native to the Galapagos. It was good to do all that exercise today after eating all this food!

Tomorrow the adventure continues! We have a fair distance to sail tonight to the next island and have been warned that it could be a bit rough.