Fernandina Island
Tuesday, 19 June 2001
Last night was our first of 6 crossings of the equator on the voyage. Doug and I actually crossed 10 times over the course of our whole trip. Our wake-up call this morning was to view the circumnavigation of Roca Redonda. This little islet is the top of a volcano and a great nesting site for birds. After breakfast and a sperm whale sighting for some, we took a panga ride along the base of the cliffs of Punta Vicente Roca, including a trip into a cave and another whale sighting. The cliffs are amazingly full of birds and the marine iguanas. In the afternoon after a quick snorkel with sea turtles, we disembark on Fernandina at Punta Espinosa for a short walk along the ropy lava. During the walk and the associated panga ride we were lucky enough to see the flightless cormorant and the Galapagos penguin (of course we also sea lions and iguanas).