Today our guest explored the westernmost realm of the Galapagos. During the morning, we snorkeled at Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island. Countless Galapagos marine iguanas basking along the shoreline was the highlight as our guests explored the island. While snorkeling, guests observed green sea turtles and marine iguanas feeding on the seaweed covering the rocks. In the afternoon, we went on panga rides to experience Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island. This site offers an impressive view of a collapsed volcano. The rocky cliffs provide shelter for Galapagos fur seals, and they are a good perch for seabirds like Nazca boobies, brown noddy terns, flightless cormorants, and Galapagos penguins.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 25 Apr 2022
Isabela Island & Fernandina Island, 4/25/2022, National Geographic Endeavour II
- Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
- Galápagos
Salvador Cazar, Naturalist
Salvador Cazar studied biology at the Universidad Nacional Del Sur, Bahía Blanca, in Argentina and at the Catholic University of Ecuador. Between 1988 and 1994, Salvador worked as a naturalist and tour leader for several national and international to...
Read MoreShare Report
Exploring Galápagos
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/7/2025
Read
National Geographic Delfina
Bahía Urbina and Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
As the sun rose, we headed to Urbina Bay, a visitor site found on Isabela Island at the slopes of the marvelous Alcedo Volcano. Isabela is home to a unique morphotype of dome-shelled tortoises and arguably the most pristine island of the Galapagos. We went for a short walk, and in addition to spotting the popular giants, we also observed the evidence of an uplift event which occurred in 1954. In the afternoon, we navigated for an hour to the historical Tagus Cove, the same place where HMS Beagle once anchored. With elusive octopi, fast swimming penguins, funny looking cormorants, and breathtaking views, we finished another great day in this enchanted archipelago.
5/6/2025
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Isabela Island
Navigation brought us to the largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago, Isabela. Holding half of all land mass in the Galapagos, it has a diverse selection of ecosystems that we were able to visit. Urvina Bay was geologically uplifted in the 1950’s, taking two square kilometers of seafloor that was thrust upward, in certain areas up to four meters out of the water. Intertidal species were stranded inland, and we walked upon this area. Galapagos giant tortoises and land iguanas were found on our trail, and we were surrounded by Darwin finches and Galapagos mockingbirds. The afternoon brought us to Tagus Cove where we explored the surrounding waters, encountering Galapagos penguins and Pacific green sea turtles swimming among the kayakers and snorkelers. As the sun dipped below the horizon, adventurous hikers took a fast-paced hike to enjoy an incredible view of Darwin Lake and the immense island of Isabela.