Island paint colors

The 4 Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Islands or Lower Cabinets

The Best Blue, Gray, Teal & Black Cabinet Colours

I’ve talked a lot about oak cabinets, white cabinets, appliances, and wine – all in the same sentence, but I’ve YET to touch down on the best paint colours for a kitchen island or lower cabinets. And while this idea isn’t for EVERYONE, there are some brave souls out there who want to add some personality to their kitchen but don’t necessarily want it on a LARGE-scale (ie: ALL of their cabinets).

Now, if you go onto Pinterest or Houzz, you’ll find no shortage of ideas for what colour to paint your island or cabinets, and we’ll touch on a few of my faves below, but…

just because you CAN paint your island a different colour, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

This is why today, we’re not just chatting about some of the best paint colours for your island/cabinets, we’re also going to look at some pros and cons.

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The Pros to Painting Your Kitchen Island or Lower Cabinets a Different Colour

1.

A PAINTED ISLAND CAN CREATE A FOCAL POINT & A FOUNDATION FOR A ROOM

Painting your island a different colour from the main cabinets can be a great way to ground your space and create a striking focal point, especially if you have light coloured tile/vinyl and white cabinets.

2. A PAINTED ISLAND OR LOWER CABINETS CAN BREAK UP A WOOD-ON-WOOD LOOK

While some kitchens can pull off the wood-on-wood look, it can be a bit much if the floor and cabinets are EXACTLY the same OR have different undertones. Breaking things up with a coloured island/lower cabinets can add a nice shift while giving the countertop/backsplash an opportunity to be pulled into the palette.

In the above kitchen, there was a HECK of a lot of wood grain going on. Painting the HUGE island a dark, grounding colour (Sherwin Williams Cyberspace) was a great way to slow things down and give the space a solid foundation for the remaining wood to really dance (and you all know how I love to make wood dance)!

3. YOU CAN NOD TOWARD THE CURRENT TREND WITHOUT HAVING TO PAINT ALL OF THE CABINETS

Painting ALL of your kitchen cabinets a trendy paint colour can be a risky choice. However, nodding towards the trend by painting ONLY the island is a great happy medium without a 100% commitment to colour on a large scale.

This is also an important consideration if you want to sell in the next 5-10 years. Chances are, whatever trend you commit to will be gone, or on its way out and could affect your resale value.

4. IT’S MORE AFFORDABLE TO CHANGE IF YOU GET BORED OR TRENDS CHANGE

Painting kitchen cabinets is an expensive project and not every budget can accommodate this kind of investment. Painting the ISLAND is not only more affordable to do NOW, but it’s also affordable to change down the road if you get bored (or on a monthly basis like me).

It’s not just about paint colours either! Painting the MAIN cabinets white (for example) and partnering them up with an island or lower cabinets in a wood stain is a popular idea, as shown in these next photos. Both of these kitchens were created from scratch, so doing the island a different colour/stain was easier to incorporate vs doing a remodel using existing products.

The Cons to Painting Your Kitchen Island or Lower Cabinets a Different Colour

1. A PAINTED ISLAND/LOWER CABINETS CAN MAKE A KITCHEN LOOK TOO BUSY

If you have two different countertops, painting your island a different colour from the main cabinets can add to the busy-ness, unless things are very carefully coordinated. It’s a bit easier to do if your island has a butcher-block countertop and wood flooring, as that would eliminate a few products that need to be cross-coordinated, but if you have tile/vinyl flooring and two different countertops, things can look really cluttered really fast.

Even though the above kitchen had some great bones in place, painting the island a different colour wouldn’t have ADDED to the look, it would’ve cluttered it up.

2. IT CAN OVERWHELM A KITCHEN THAT ALREADY HAS ENOUGH GOING ON

Wait, didn’t I just cover this, just in different words? Anyway, it’s a good point to make…again.

Multiple cabinet colours can be too much of a good thing if you already have some interesting features happening in your kitchen. In this photo below, painting the island a different colour would have cluttered things up and taken away from what is already a gorgeous space!

3. IF YOU DON’T PICK THE RIGHT PAINT COLOUR, IT WILL BE A HOT MESS

Picking the best paint colour for your kitchen island isn’t just about picking the colour you WANT to paint your island, it’s about picking a colour that ties into your existing finishes – including the floor, countertop, backsplash and main kitchen cabinets.

4. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT BLEND AND BALANCE OF DEPTHS, YOU COULD SET THE ROOM OFF-BALANCE

Not every kitchen was designed to have an island in a different colour. Some spaces need the consistency of ONE cabinet colour due to the depth of the walls, backsplash, countertop and main cabinets.

For example, in this next space, while a darker island would’ve looked ‘okay’, the balance down the center of the room, considering the stately stone fireplace and dark sectional, would’ve been pretty strong, whereas the white island added balance.

Read more: The Best Sherwin Williams White Paint Colours

5. IT’S TRENDY

It’s as simple as that. Right now, painted islands are popular…but so are crop tops and shorts that show off your bum cheeks (hey, I would if I could). Like any trend, it’s only a matter of time before painted islands or lower cabinets aren’t as popular and when it comes time to sell, your choice could devalue your home.

4 PART SERIES: How to Create a Timeless Home

And now, let’s get this party started…

Colours are just example blobs, not direct references to actual colours

1. The Best NAVY BLUE Paint Colours for Kitchen Cabinets (or Island)

Sherwin Williams Cyberspace
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
Benjamin Moore Ocean Floor

When it comes to my Online Colour Consulting, navy blue is definitely the top choice when it comes to painted islands and lower cabinets. However, there are MANY kitchens that can’t visually support ANY type of blue, so make sure it makes sense for YOUR space and its finishes!

See more of this project HERE

Shown above, Sherwin Williams Cyberspace

Shown above, BM Ocean Floor is wicked gorgeous with Cloud White main cabinets

While there are ALWAYS exceptions, in order to paint your island or cabinets blue, your kitchen would ideally have:

white or wood cabinets
a countertop that has blue in it or is white/gray
it’s flexible towards many tiles/linoleum products, it DOES love wood floor too!

10 Of The Best Kitchen Island Colors

Kitchen islands are the workhorse of the modern day kitchen. From prepping meals, to casual breakfasts and even a spot to do homework - they do it all!

Accenting your kitchen with a contrasting island color is a great way to inject color into a kitchen, especially a traditional white kitchen.

Especially for those who are afraid of color, a colorful kitchen island is a great way to inject color and personality into a plain kitchen without going overboard.

Painting an existing island is also a totally do-able DIY project, especially when you've done your research and know the best paint for kitchen cabinets.

If you do decide you want to go for a contrasting color, it can create a wonderful focal point and is a great way of nodding to a trending shade without having to repaint your whole kitchen.

If you want to embrace the trend of natural wood tones, a stained or cerused wood island can create a wonderfully natural and cozy feel to a kitchen.

Here are my 10 favorite kitchen island colors to help you with your choice.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

Kendall Charcoal is a rich and luxurious dark gray which works best paired with crisp white and natural wood tones. This is a great choice is you are wanting to dip your toe into darker colors but you don't want the massive commitment and cost of painting all your cabinets.

BM Kendall Charcoal via Home Bunch

Farrow & Ball Green Smoke

Green kitchen islands and cabinets are an emerging trend for 2021. While you may not want to commit to an entirely green green, a green island adds beautiful warmth, especially when paired with creamy white cabinets and brass accents.

Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball is the perfect green paint color- it's not too dark and has the perfect balance of undertones to make your space really pop.

Farrow & Ball Green Smoke via Style by Emily Henderson

Benjamin Moore Boothbay Gray

Isn't this shade of blue gray stunning? I simply love how it's a light-mid tone gray with that gorgeous blue undertone running through it.

It has enough to depth in it to really inject some character into your space without completely taking over at the same time. It's also a color that pairs well with all colors of kitchen hardware, from nickel to brass and even flat black.

I love it so much that I chose it for my kitchen remodel!

BM Boothbay Gray via Design Loves Detail

Sherwin Williams Krypton

Krypton is a beautiful soft, creamy blue gray and is definitely a little brighter and lighter than Boothbay Gray by Benjamin Moore.

Krypton is a stunning shade which looks amazing against white and gold as seen in the photo.

The white provides a wonderful contrast to the blue while the gold accents on the lights and clock work really well to bring out the creamy side of this dreamy color.

SW Krypton via Chrissy Marie Blog

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

Hale Navy is a wonderful rich dark navy with a gray undertone which will inject a striking pop of color to your kitchen island. Hale Navy looks best paired with light grays and bright whites.

I love this color so much - it really evokes the beauty of maritime and all things coastal!

BM Hale Navy via Renovated Faith

Sherwin Williams Naval

While you may think Naval is pretty similar to Benjamin Moore's Hale Navy there are some subtle differences.

While Hale Navy has that gray undertone, Naval is more of a true blue so if you are looking for a navy which appears a little more colorful and vibrant, this may be the one for you.

In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a navy blue kitchen island. But I'm obsessed with all things blue so I'm a bit biased!

SW Naval via Dina Holland Interiors

Light Ash Wood

Natural wood tones are majorly on trend for 2021 and I love this beautiful light wood tone for a kitchen island.

In particular, I love how the light ash is the main feature of the kitchen and appears in the doorway, kitchen island and flooring and how the white of the other kitchen cabinets is a subtle contrast.

This is a wonderful choice for an elevated farmhouse kitchen vibe - definitely more modern and subtle than a traditional farmhouse!

I would pair wood tones like this with creamier whites to really embrace the warmth they bring to a space.

Light Ash Wood via Utah Style and Design

Walnut Wood

Walnut wood tones are beautiful and rich and look gorgeous paired with white and blue as seen in this kitchen.

This is such a wonderfully versatile look and paired with the right accents - will keep your home looking fresh and modern, while still maintaining a traditional vibe.

Walnut Island via Decor Pad

Rustic Dark Walnut

If you are on the search for a more traditional modern farmhouse look then a dark walnut kitchen island may be the best choice for you.

Not only is dark walnut a wonderful eye-catching choice - it will look great paired with most colors on cabinets. Pair with white and blue for a more traditional feel.

Dark Walnut Island via Bold Boundless Blonde

Reclaimed Wood

If you are wanting a seriously shabby chic or European farmhouse/vintage style for your kitchen then you need to go to the extra mile and source your own kitchen island.

Or better yet - source the reclaimed wood yourself and create your own bespoke kitchen island. The result? A wonderfully quaint, minimalist yet unique kitchen island that will last the test of time.

Reclaimed wooden kitchen island via House & Garden

Final Thoughts

No matter which color or wood type you choose - your kitchen island should be an expression of your personality and flow with the rest of your home.

Bearing that in mind, it's always important to consider the wider room and how the kitchen island will impact on the visual balance of the room as a whole. Consider hardware choices, countertop materials, as well as the color of the perimeter cabinets to ensure the undertones don't clash.

When all else fails, go with your heart, as the kitchen should always be the heart of the home!

Don't forget - no matter what you've read or photos you've seen online, it's really important to sample paint colors in your home before committing!

Samplize provides real paint samples that are easy to move around your home, and cheaper than buying a gazillion paint pots! It's the only way I buy paint samples.

Try Samplize For Yourself Here

More Paint Colors

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Island Ceilings - Types of Ceilings

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home ceilings Island ceilings

Island ceilings can solve a complex of problems in large public spaces

Acoustic island lights
Acoustic island ceilings are designed for acoustic correction and creation of comfortable conditions in public places, offices, meeting rooms, residential premises.

Acoustic panels can be of both strict geometric shapes and arbitrary shapes and sizes. Light island ceilings allow you to embody the most daring design ideas, allowing you to make pendant lamps of any shape and size. Any color of the edges and surface of the luminaire is available, as well as the possibility of applying any prints.

3

Characteristics

System design

The panel consists of an aluminum structure (frame) that contains a sound-absorbing material wrapped with a sound-transmitting acoustic cloth

Surface treatment image on request

Designer three-dimensional and planar island ceiling structures create truly upscale interiors.

Benefits

•High acoustic performance

•Excellent appearance, which manifests itself in a wide range of panel colors

•Easy in execution and installation

•Ability to realize any form.

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K&R Design performs professional installation, dismantling and repair of ceilings of any complexity, including suspension systems, curved and multi-level structures. Strict adherence to technology, great experience of the craftsmen and a responsible attitude to the work performed - all this becomes the key to an impeccable result.

Requirements for the aesthetics of the interior are constantly increasing, which is why suspended ceilings are becoming especially popular. Their installation allows you to successfully mask the flaws of the base surface instead of wasting time and effort on repairing surfaces using building mixtures.

In addition, the design of suspended structures can be different, ranging from flat and ending with multi-level, figured and curvilinear, which allows you to implement the most complex design projects.

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Red-throated frigatebirds, blue paws island and Ayala Aquarium | Publications

Another typical Galapagos bird is the frigatebird. Amusing stories are told about her, with her participation, a director named Nature puts on a performance on the island of San Cristobal, which invariably delights tourists.

...—Floreana and Hispaniola are the southernmost islands in the archipelago,” Carlos's voice whistles over the wind. “We won't go there. Too far. Yes, and you probably saw flamingos on the mainland. Albatrosses fly throughout the archipelago. Therefore, first we will go over to San Cristobal and see the frigates. From there - on Daphne, to the "blue paws". And then - there is enough time - we will turn to Isabela. I know a cove there. Real aquarium. When I fished on a longboat, we escaped storms there. The boat will not pass into this bay, but it is possible on a boat.

San Cristobal welcomes us with clear sunny weather, and Tijeras Bay with hundreds if not thousands of frigates hovering in the air. The bay is deep and Carlos brings the yacht quite close to the shore. The boat was launched, and in a matter of minutes we were on dry land.

It is difficult to find words to describe the admiration that you feel when looking at what is happening above us. Birds gain height and dive down, glide, somersault, screw into the blue of the sky again. There seems to be no end to the air games.

Even more amazing is what we see when we go deeper into the black rocks. Everywhere birds. Some look like red-hot coals, others like medieval Spanish giants.

“The Coals are male frigatebirds,” Carlos explains. “Now is the time for the birds to get married. Males, in order to attract females, greatly inflate their red goiters. You see, the scarlet balls almost hide the birds themselves! Every time when the wedding time comes, such performances are played in this bay and in neighboring bays.

The spectacle is really amazing! Outstretched wings, balls of purple blazing, above which long white beaks stick out. Noise from flapping wings... Usually, in casual clothes of asphalt gray color, they look far from dapper. But in females, the outfit is always bright: the head and neck are light yellow, white and yellow feathers alternate on the wings.

Daphne is just the crater of one large extinct volcano that has broken away from large islands and got lost in the blue expanses of the ocean. If you look at it from the air, a comparison comes with a gray cup overturned into a blue saucer. But this “cup” is deformed: one edge is sheer, the other is flat. We go around a steep bank, the lower part of which the wind and waves have cleaned and washed almost white. We anchor near the gently sloping shore, where, oddly enough, it is less windy and the swell is not so strong. We disembark from the boat "in a dry way" and go in single file to the top of the crater along a narrow path.

“Tourists are asked not to leave the trail,” says the signs on the signs, which also serve as direction indicators. You understand the need for such warnings when you stumble upon a bird sitting right on the path. I involuntarily stop, take a step back, and then carefully walk around her side.

By the way, this is also one of the brightest impressions that you get from getting acquainted with the life of the inhabitants of the Galapagos: here, at a meeting, whether on a flat lava field or on a narrow rocky path above the ocean, a person retreats. Animals and birds remain calmly in their places, following him with their eyes and as if asking: “What is this two-legged creature doing here, in our possessions?”

Daphne Island, like San Cristobal, was undergoing a period of renewal - the gannets also had a mating season. Some birds were already sitting on their eggs, and when we passed by, they did not even move, but only carefully watched us with the buttons of their eyes. Others were still busy making amorous dances. This wedding ceremony of boobies is no less attractive than the swelling of red crops by male frigatebirds. Birds mark time, raising their paws, and with smooth caressing movements touch each other with their beaks. At this time, they are so passionate about courtship that they can easily be grabbed by hands, for which the locals called them "stupid birds." The coloration of boobies is surprisingly harmonious: snow-white chest, neck and head, half-white, half-black wings, soft pink, turning into a gray beak, large yellow eyes - all this is complemented by blue webbed feet.

“The main nesting sites are in the crater itself,” says Carlos. “Here, on Daphne, only blue-footed boobies live. But on Hispaniola, two other species nest - with red paws and with green ones. Scientists say that "blue paws" is a rarer variety.

— Why are they sometimes also called "masked eagles"? asks Sven, who is pretty adept at ornithology.

Carlos shrugs silently. This was, it seems, the only case when he did not have a ready answer.

By the way, biologists still have doubts about the names of some birds and especially the number of species nesting in the Galapagos. It is extremely difficult to find reliable data. From one source you learn that of the 57 species of birds that live on the islands, half are endemic. Another source claims that 89 species of birds nest in the Galapagos, of which 76 are endemic.

On the way to the top of the volcano, we stop every now and then to take pictures of the birds at close range. Those that sit on eggs open their eyes and fall back into slumber. Some rise above the nest and sway slightly with their whole body.

— They roll the eggs so that they are heated evenly from all sides, — Carlos explains. — As you have noticed, gannets build their nests right on the ground. They usually lay two or three eggs. In search of food, birds do not move away from the coast and therefore often bring out all the chicks, without loss. Finally we reach the top of the volcano. From here, from the edge of the crater, its deep bottom is clearly visible. It is dotted with dark dots.

“Almost all birds hatch their chicks there, at the bottom of the crater,” Carlos draws a circle with his hand, repeating its contours. “The most difficult thing for a mother begins after the chicks hatch. Around everything is flat and bare - no rocks, no bushes, and the sun from the zenith fries in full force. How can a weak chick be saved from the burning rays? Only under the wing of the mother. So she has to stand idle for hours in the sun and protect the chicks from overheating, covering them with her own body.

However, not all birds are so stupid. Some gannets - I even photographed them - sit under large stones, in crevices. So, some specimens understood that the stones cast a shadow and that you can leave the chicks there while you go to get food? They seem to have adapted better to environmental conditions than those that breed on the bare bottom of the crater? Consequently, these “smart” ones and their offspring have more chances of survival than those “stupid” ones?..

Daphne is in silence, contemplation of the boundless ocean, rocks, birds. You can choose any angle, shooting its inhabitants at close range.

Quiet. Not like in Hispaniola,” Carlos says thoughtfully.

— And why is it worse? It's the same island, after all...

— The same, but not quite, — he answers. — Here there is only a soft whistling of the wind, and there the roar of the surf and the endless sharp cries of birds and the roar of sea lions.

— Why are they roaring like that all the time, without a break?

- As long as the tourists are nearby, the lions bark like hoarse dogs. So each of them warns you not to invade the territory of his harem. By the way,” Carlos suddenly perks up, “the example of the family life of sea lions once again shows the great wisdom of Mother Nature. Judge for yourself. An adult male usually maintains a harem of 20-30 females. The constant activity and vigilant protection of the harem from strangers lead to the fact that the "sultan" is rapidly weakening. In this case, he voluntarily leaves the harem and retires to the "island of bachelors." Only adult males are there, their aggressiveness disappears, they gain strength, arrange new harems.

Small water dust is pouring out of a cloud that has flown in. As with most islands, it rains frequently on Daphne. But from the vegetation here you can see only lichens of different sizes and colors and cacti, including rather large prickly pear: only they manage to defeat the volcanic lava from which the island is composed.

“Soon you will see a completely different vegetation,” says Carlos, as if reading my thoughts. “My cove on Isabela is surrounded on all sides by an evergreen forest. Don't believe?

The rain and the desire to visit the mysterious cove, to see the “Ayala Aquarium” drive us on. We go down to the beach. And again the motor knocks merrily, again the fair wind inflates the sails. "The island of blue paws" is melting in the ocean distance.

Having reached Isabela, the yacht anchors in front of a gloomy and inhospitable cape. The low bank is strewn with large black stones, against which the waves crash with noise. Further, behind the stones, yellow sandy bald patches are visible. On the very edge of the cape, half-dried low-growing trees sway in the wind, mighty trees with lush green crowns flaunt right there. How did they manage to cling to a rocky cape and withstand the pressure of winds and waves? Not a single living creature is visible, not even the creaking cries of seagulls are heard.

We board the boat, and Carlos guides it confidently across the bay, which goes deep into the land. The bay is bordered by low trees that stand above the water on stands made of their own roots. Thin branches are intricately intertwined with each other, forming one large green blanket. So this is what Carlos was talking about, a completely different vegetation! Mangroves are an amazing phenomenon of tropical zones, an irreconcilable adversary of the sea, without which, however, it cannot exist...

Mangroves are another example of the whirlwind that occurs in nature, including in the Galapagos. They occupy sandy or silty soils, constantly washed by sea water. The sea undermines and destroys the coast and applies sand and silt to the roots of mangroves. Young shoots cling to them, and in this way, mantras, with the help of the sea, advance ... on the sea. Old trees remain “in the rear”, lose direct contact with the sea and die. Their place is taken by other vegetation. And the sea continues to sharpen the coast and provide the mangroves with the necessary "building material" - sand or silt. Such thickets are a natural nursery for the reproduction of the local fauna: birds arrange their nests in them, many species of fish spawn here, and shrimp breed.

The boat is slowing down. Carlos peers at the shore, if one can call that the gray-green strip of thick threads hanging into the water. These are young shoots of mangroves, "frontline fighters". There's a dead end ahead, but that's where we're heading. Through a window barely visible in the thicket, the boat cuts through the wall and enters a vast calm lake.

We rush across the lake straight to the opposite wall of mangroves. Turn the rudder, and the boat at low speed enters a narrow channel. In some places, the roof of intertwined trunks and branches hangs so low that you have to bow your head. Everyone is looking ahead.

The duct turns out to be narrow and long, but then it widens, and Carlos breaks the silence.

“One day,” he says, “a storm drove our launches into the lake we had just crossed. We stand for a day, another, waiting for the weather to improve. Having nothing to do, my friend and I began to fish from a boat, saw a channel and decided to find out where it leads. So we opened the "aquarium".

The channel is narrowing again, so much so that the thickets of that and look will take the boat into their tenacious captivity. Carlos turns off the engine.

“Well, here we are,” he lowers his voice almost to a whisper. “Now you have to sit quietly and just look into the water.

The boat floats out of inertia into the middle of a tiny lake. Its diameter is twenty meters, no more. Thickets surround it from all sides. The sandy bottom shines through the blue water, a meter and a half or two to it. Above your head is the same blue circle of the sky. This is the "Ayala Aquarium".

Breathe easily and freely on this patch of water. No mosquitoes for you, no mosquitoes. I involuntarily recalled trips to the Cuban islets - "cayos", where the damned "hekhen" did not give a moment's rest - a vile creature the size of a pinhead, seeping even through a gauze mesh.

Sven, wearing a green jacket with lots of pockets, a jockey on his head and a camera around his neck, sits next to me. Suddenly he touches my elbow and nods towards the water. A few meters from the boat, a large light orange ... baby blanket was spread out in the water. It slowly floats forward. The "nose" is slightly turned up, a small round hole is visible on the white lining.

- An eye? Sven asks Carlos in a whisper.

"Mouth," he answers in a whisper, not hiding an ironic smile.

The dialogue did not continue. Sven, unable to restrain himself, utters a low exclamation in which everything is invested: “Look, look there! How many of them! What a beauty!. .”

Following the first “blanket”, a second, third, fourth floats into the “aquarium”... They float, stretched out in a line. We have more than a dozen "quilts" of various sizes.

- Yes, these are rays!

I shoot frame by frame until Carlos touches my shoulder. I turn around. He points to young shoots. A light gray torpedo more than a meter long froze below them.

- Shark. Little yet,” Carlos whispers. “They are almost tame here.

— And if tame, say hello to her — shake her fin or stroke her nose — Sven's lips rustle. He rolls into silent laughter, apparently believing that he has avenged his mistake with the "eye" and for Carlos's ironic grin.

It's my turn to pull Sven by the sleeve, and when he turns in my direction, I point the camera lens at the bow of the boat. There, a gray-blue bird with a long beak, the size of a thrush, tramples on thin paws. She is in no hurry to fly away and does not react to our movements or to camera clicks.

We spent an unforgettable half an hour in the "aquarium", discovering many wonders and taking rare pictures of its inhabitants. And no matter how sorry it was to leave the "Ayala Aquarium", it was necessary to remember that twilight in the tropics falls quickly. The prospect of encountering darkness in a mangrove forest did not suit anyone. That is why the way back seemed to us much shorter.

As the yacht pulled away from the shore and headed for Baltra, a streak of blazing pink sunset of all shades spread across the sky. A heavy inky twilight descended on the island with its volcanoes, mantras and inland lakes, on a gloomy cape, at the foot of which the waves splashed, on the quiet evening ocean. Against the backdrop of the truly heavenly colors of the Galapagos sunset, the cape with branching fairy-tale trees standing on it and the dark contours of the peaks of Isabela Island rising behind them appeared as mysterious symbols of the “Enchanted Archipelago”.

...A couple of hours later the yacht anchored on the Canal. Two hours later we were in Puerto Ayora.

The village lived an ordinary, undisturbed life.