The first full day of our expedition took place at Española, or Hood Island, the oldest in the archipelago and certainly a highlight of our week. Many unique species live only on this little island.
We started off by kayaking along the shores of Gardner Bay and then we had our first water activities. One group went snorkeling in the deep water, while a second group practiced snorkeling from beach at Gardner Bay.
This beautiful beach is home to several colonies of Galapagos sea lions. In the water, they are really graceful. On land, they are cute and interesting. We observed them for hours and enjoyed their interactions. Galapagos sea lions are always a favorite. We witnessed males fighting for territory, mothers nursing their babies, and pups at play. We then returned to the ship for an amazing Ecuadorian lunch. What a morning!
In the afternoon, we arrived at Punta Suarez. Situated on the western side of Española, it is a hot spot of life! At the beginning of our walk, we came across colorful marine iguanas basking along the shore. Endemic Española mockingbirds came for a closer look at us. Lava lizards walked across the trail. After climbing some boulders, we had our first sighting of the waved albatross, the highlight of the afternoon.
This emblematic species nests only on this Island. We were lucky to find some waved albatross chicks, and even some adults courting each other. We had a nice view of a blow hole and a sky filled with different kinds of sea birds.
Sunset was coming and it was time to go back to the ship. On the return walk, a guest said to me, “Your job must be fascinating because the islands are different every day!” It is true. After spending years here, Galapagos never stops surprising me with its beauty. The proximity you have to the wildlife is unbelievable and so are the mental postcards we will keep in our minds forever.
