Is this paradise?
Admin | Friday, April 9, 2010 at 12:14AM Some news again after few full days in Isabela, the last islands we can visit in the Galapagos.
We are in Puerto Villamil since Saturday (0deg 57.94S – 90deg 57.81W). This arrival was not the easiest as the anchoring bay is surrounded by sharp reef and bounded by volcanic islets, sailing and fishing boats. Having left late from Santa Cruz we had to navigate in the night with the spot light but we managed to find a spot to drop the anchor.
On Sunday, we had an Easter egg hunt on the beach which other kids boats. Happy and smiley Clea, Victor and Felix found lots of them, with more or less sand, more or less melted, but still with a delicious taste. Chocolate stays a very special treat here.
Monday was a relax day, enjoying the clear blue water, swimming with penguins and sea lions. We walked in Las Tintoreas. This is a typical volcanic landscape where lots of black rocks with amazing shapes and nearly no vegetation make you feel you are on another planet. The marine iguanas can hide very well in the environment but we found lots of them, sun tanning or swimming. Felix became friend with a baby seal which came to sniff him really close.
Tuesday was a really special day as we went on a panga ride. The pangas are the local, thin and long boats. We went to Los Tuneles, another unbelievable volcanic landscape but half immerged by the sea. Imagine black twisted lava rocks, sticking out the turquoise sea, with more iguanas and endemic birds like pelicans or the famous blue footed boobies. We elected these blue footed boobies our favorite bird: they are SOOOO beautiful with their thin and dark beak, gracious face and flashy ice-blue feet. We also went for a snorkel in this incredible landscape and saw some hammer head sharks, white tipped reef sharks, sea horses, octopus and a huge old turtle. We ended up the day playing with some of our toys: went for a kayak discovery, the boys sailed Miaou (our sailing dinghy since Greg finished the rigging in Panama). Is this Paradise? It looks like!
Greg went diving this morning. He would have came back disappointed if he hasn’t seen a huge Manta Ray (4m wide) at the end of the dive. We still would like to discover more or this extraordinary and magnificent island. So our next few days should be busy.
Reader Comments (1)
Hi everybody! I'm glad to read your book today, my computer was out of order so I couldn't keep in touch. The pictures are beautiful and it seems that you have a nice and great time on Merlin. Big kisses to everybody and my special thoughts for you "Mamousse". Mireille