Wild Encounters on Isabela’s Wild West

1. Galápagos Brown Pelican – Master of the Dive

​After a rough night at sea—thank goodness for motion sickness medication—we arrived early in the morning on the western side of Isabela Island, anchoring at Tagus Cove. This natural harbor dates back to the 1800s, when whalers and pirates used it as a refuge, leaving their ship names carved into the rock walls.

Later that morning, we planned to hike up the ridge for a panoramic view of the surrounding volcanic landscape and Darwin Lake—a striking saltwater crater lake. Despite its name, Charles Darwin never actually visited this specific location. However, his name remains tied to it as a tribute to his groundbreaking research on evolution in the Galápagos.

Before the hike, we took a dinghy ride along the rugged coastline to photograph birds. Tagus Cove is an excellent place to spot blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, and brown pelicans. I was especially pleased with this shot of a Galápagos brown pelican, a subspecies of the brown pelican. These large seabirds are known for their impressive plunge-diving technique, using their long bills to scoop up fish from just below the water’s surface.
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2. Galápagos Giant Tortoise – A Living Relic

​After spending the morning exploring Tagus Cove, we continued our journey south along the western coast of Isabela Island, arriving at Urbina Bay over lunch. The plan was to make a wet landing and hike inland to find one of the Galápagos’ most famous residents—the Galápagos giant tortoise.

By the time we boarded the dinghies, the weather had shifted. The rain never came, but the sea grew rougher, making the wet landing extra wet for some in our group. Later that afternoon, boarding the dinghy again became an even wetter challenge. But that’s all part of the adventure in the Galápagos!

Our hike led us through lush vegetation, where we soon spotted the giant tortoises. These incredible reptiles are the largest living tortoises in the world, with some individuals growing over 1.8 meters long and weighing more than 400 kilograms. They can live for over 100 years, making them true icons of the archipelago. Urbina Bay is one of the best places to see them in the wild, as they roam freely, grazing on the greenery.

I particularly liked this shot, which captures the tortoise in its natural environment, surrounded by tall grass. Seeing these ancient creatures up close is a humbling reminder of the unique and fragile ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands.