Sunrise, Marine Iguana, Penguins, Turtles, and Sea Lions

Galapagos Dawn

Monday, April 4, 2016, WTRD 87

We were up at 5:00, in the Pangas by 6:00, on the trail by 6:15 and watching the sunrise in the Galapagos.  On our way to the island, we spotted some Galapagos Penguins,



 Pelicans, and a Blue Footed Boobie, but the sun had not yet risen so taking photos was a bit problematic.  Our goal on this mornings walk was to visit the nesting grounds of the marine iguana.

These animals have adapted color-wise so much to their environment, they are very difficult to spot even when they are right in front of youl  These very prehistoric looking animals are black like the black lava stone and have white markings similar to the white lichen growing on the lava stone.

In addition, to the iguana, we saw some large green sea turtles,

Galapagos Penguins

sea lions walking on all fours,

and bright red crabs.

We returned to the boat by breakfast at 7:30, had enough time to let the food settle before going snorkeling at 9:30, on the the island Isabela.  The water clarity was much better today and I actually got to swim with a marine iguana.  Russ got to swim with some penguins. 

We  had enough time after snorkeling to take showers, eat lunch and take a siesta in the shade on the sun deck.  Indeed we fell asleep in  the company of almost everyone in our group who fell asleep with a gentle breeze and the rocking of the boat.

At 2:00 pm, we returned to Isla Isabela to visit a tortoise breeding project where the park is working hard to increase the tortoise population that have been severely reduced by whalers, pirates, rats who eat the eggs, donkeys and cattle that trample the eggs, and goats that eat the vegetation that tortoises eat.  Because temperature creates the gender of turtle egg, the National Park project, incubates eggs at a warmer temperature so that more females hatch than males and the breeding and egg laying  process is expedited.  Fortunately, the turtles were doing what they are supposed to do at the breeding center, so we got quite the Turtle Sex Show.  We were asked if we could distinguish the male from the female.  I said, "Position?"  Well turns out the correct answer is the males are much bigger than the females.

Love the expression on this guy's face.  Turtle sex takes 2-4  hours  This one just climaxed!

We walked from the breeding center back to the beach seeing flamingoes,

marine iguanas,

Marine iguanas swim with front leg along their sides like a snake

and various birds.















We stopped at a local palapa for beer and the local drink Cocoloco before heading back to the boat.  On our way back to the boat we saw more turtles, a manta ray, and and an eagle ray.

Once again, many of us were nearly nodding off at dinner.  The after dinner show was watching small reef sharks being attacked and eaten by sea lions off of our balcony.  Nice desserts.  We retired , took showers and are now in bed.  

Tonight we sail to Floreana, and tomorrow after lunch we sail to Cormorant Point.

All is well with the Worrall Travel Rs in the Galapagos Islands.