Over lunch we headed south to Isabella Island, the largest island in the Galapagos.  It is larger than all the other islands combined.  We did another Zodiac tour of the coast.  Here we found more Galapagos Penguins, ironically sitting right next to cactus.  Not what I usually think of when I think of penguins.  Note: these penguins are the only ones that live in the Northern Hemisphere. So, here is my “Penguins on Parade!”

Above the penguins were a great example of the two major cactus in the Galapagos: Prickly Pear and Candelabra.  I didn’t expect cactus on equator / tropic islands, but the Galapagos only really gets rain a few months out of the year.

While not as overwhelming as in the morning at Fernandina, iguanas were still in force.

Then there was a pelican to wish us “fare well” as we drove to the mangrove area.

The mangrove area was fun to visit, as there are families of Spotted Eagle Rays and Blacktip Reef Sharks that shelter in the mangroves at certain times of their lives.  Fun to watch, but hard to take pictures of while in a boat.  The water was clear enough to see them when they swam close to us, but they quickly became black splotches.  You’ll just have to trust me on this one.

We are visiting a human-inhabited island tomorrow to tour a coffee plantation and meet giant tortoises.  I don’t understand the connection, but maybe I will tomorrow.