{"id":1092,"date":"2021-05-31T17:17:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T22:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/millennialroad.com\/?p=1092"},"modified":"2021-06-08T11:22:19","modified_gmt":"2021-06-08T16:22:19","slug":"fernandina-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/millennialroad.com\/fernandina-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine Iguanas on Fernandina Island"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Fernandina
Day 12 of our 15-day Gal\u00e1pagos Cruise<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fernandina Island, the youngest and westernmost island in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, remains an active volcano, with eruptions as recent as 2009. This recent volcanic activity has resulted in a landscape cloaked in black lava rock and extremely limited plant life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cactus plants, mangrove trees, and algae provide the limited green that can be seen on the island. What the island lacks in plant life, it more than makes up for with wildlife. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fernandina<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fernandina Island is teeming with penguins, sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, lava lizards, and so much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The highlight, however, is the massive groups of marine iguanas that can be found gathering on the black lava rock onshore or swimming and eating in the ocean nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fernandina<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most of us cannot help but find it captivating to watch an animal eat in its natural habitat. If that interests you, imagine the more unique experience of watching a wild animal eat underwater. Based on our experience, these types of encounters are plentiful on Fernandina Island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read along as I paint a picture of the incredible wildlife encounters that we had on Fernandina Island, as well as some highlights from our final stop at my new favorite island\u2014Isabela Island\u2014where we swam with penguins, sea lions, and more sea turtles than I ever imagined could be found in the same area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Punta Espinosa, Fernandina Island<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We began the morning with a hike at Punta Espinosa<\/a> on Fernandina Island. As we disembarked the panga, we immediately stepped out into hundreds of marine iguanas. It was almost unimaginable to see so many iguanas gathered together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fernandina<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We continued hiking past the iguana-filled area to see a bit more of the island before returning to this same spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much to our surprise, we stumbled upon a lava lizard eating a locust during our walk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fernandina\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The locust was nearly half of the size of the lizard. Captivated by this sight, we stayed there watching the lava lizard attempt to kill and eat the locust for about 10-15 minutes. And it still was not done eating when we decided to continue on our path! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fernandina<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We passed back by the same spot about 30 minutes later, and it appeared the lizard had finished its meal for the day. I suspect that was one happy lava lizard after such a big breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Towards the endpoint of the hike, we made our way to a small lagoon. Several sea turtles were scattered across the lagoon, some swimming while others lounged on the banks.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fernandina<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A lone sea lion floated on its back across the middle of the pond. We’d seen countless sea lions basking on the beach and swimming circles around us in the water at this point of our cruise, but I had yet to see one floating casually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fernandina<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I can’t explain why, but something about how relaxed it looked just made me feel happy. We should all feel as carefree as this sea lion appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fernandina<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After spending some time at the lagoon, we made our way back out of the hike. We came across several small groups of sea lions and cormorants along our hike, each with adorable youngsters among them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n