It is our second day in paradise and Mother Nature has delighted us with many species that are unique to the Galapagos and Española Island itself. Our guests appreciated the perspective that came from seeing the oldest island in the Galapagos.
Our morning started early with a kayak outing, the rocky coastline of Gardner Bay was treasured gracefully. Different species of shorebirds were sighted, for instance, pelicans, boobies and herons were perched on the rocks waiting for small prey to be available for their early meal. After breakfast, we all gathered at the sky deck to pick up our snorkeling gear and get ready for our first experience in the underwater world. The outing took place in a small islet situated a half mile from the main island. The welcome committee (Galapagos sea lions) was waiting for us. A unique experience was appreciated by all of us. The immature sea lions were sunning around us gracefully and playing with what they found on the ocean bottom.
Later in the morning we also walked along a peaceful white sand beach that formed over time in the last five million years. Huge colonies of sea lions and small lava lizards and mockingbirds were found during this attractive walk. During lunch the National Geographic Islander was relocated to Punta Suarez for the afternoon endeavor.
After we all gathered with photo instructor Walter Perez, we were ready to put into practice the different tips we learned to improve our photographic skills. The outing lasted for three hours and all of us enjoyed the dramatic scenery of this unforgettable place. Blue-footed boobies with eggs and the sophisticated flying machines “waved albatross” were all over Punta Suarez. In addition, we saw swallow-tailed gulls, sea lions, colorful lava lizards and marine iguanas. The day ended after so much entertainment from the waved albatross that were courting over the rocky nesting site.
