Galapagos Day 3

As we write this we are settled in the Finch Bay hotel, Puerta Ayora, which is lovely, but more about that later.
We started day 3 by getting up by 5.30 a.m. for the celebration of crossing the equator. We were told there was an actual line - and there was!

This happened as we rounded the westernmost point of Isabela island, en route to Tagus Cove.

We spent the next hour before breakfast spotting seals, sun fish, minke whales, sea turtles, frigate birds wheeling around the ship and on one occasion, a manta ray passed close to the ship hotly pursued by a shark. Not a bad way to start the day (for us - not the manta ray!) 

After breakfast we landed at Tagus Cove, avoiding a sleeping seal and climbed up to the back of Darwin Crater - or as our guide called it, "Chuck D's crater".

  

You can see the Isabela II anchored in the bay.

After making our way down, the panga took us along the coast, spotting widlife. We hoped to see penguins, and we weren't disappointed. At times 30 or 40 came to the surface before diving again.

After a great lunch on deck, we crossed from Isabela to Fernadina. Stunning landscape and great wildlife.

  

The Galapagos hawk (above) has no enemies and food just lies there waiting, so it's surprising we didn't see more of them. 

An incredible day. Back on board we were awarded certificates from the captain for crossing the equator, together with celebratory cocktails. Tonight we sail around the top of Isabela island, crossing the equator twice more as we head for the islands of James (Santiago) and Bartolome.