Our first landing was at Urbina Bay on Isabela. 60 years ago, the bay was underwater. About 50 years ago the land lifted, moving the shoreline about 1 kilometer out from the old shore. The beach was a mixture of volcanic sand and dead coral.

 

Our first sight was a flightless cormorant in the water, who had just speared himself breakfast. Awaiting our arrival on the beach was a Galapagos Hawk. A short trek inland we found land iguanas who had come out of their holes to warm themselves in the sun.

 

The afternoon found us landing at Espinoza Point on Fernandina. Since it was hight tide, we landed on a concrete dock. We walked along the old lava flows, where the young sea lions are able to swim and play without worrying about being attacked by sharks. The marine iguanas were in abundance. The skeleton of an old beached whale was laying on the rocks.