Today we reached Española, the oldest island of the Archipelago. Like San Cristobal, it also harbors a unique array of species endemic to this island. In the morning, we snorkeled around Gardner Islet, where the waters sat at a comfortable 82°F. We swam here with sea lions and even spotted a Galapagos shark.
Later, we visited a gorgeous beach and, in the afternoon, visited Punta Suarez, home to an important local bird estuary. But before landing, we experienced heavy rains typical of the hot season.
Walking along the rocky shores, we saw American oystercatchers and their chicks. More inland we observed the Española mocking bird, the Española lava lizard, and the Christmas iguana, the latter being a subspecies that is exclusive to Española Island. We also saw Nazca boobies during their breeding season. We spotted chicks of all stages and couples still mating.
We also observed a nest belonging to a Galápagos hawk on our way back to National Geographic Islander. Española never ceases to amaze anyone who comes here.
