We started our expedition journey in the Galapagos Islands onboard the National Geographic Islander.
For the beginning of the expedition we started on one of the eastern Islands, Española. This is the oldest of all the Islands in the Archipelago. it has been isolated and exposed to the conditions that the marine and air currents bring to the Islands. This island has a high percentage of endemism–animals that exist nowhere else but here- such as sea and land birds, insects and more.
During the morning we enjoyed the water activities offered on the island. We visited Gardner Bay, a place where long ago successive eruptions broke down corals and shells forming a wonderful white sandy beach. Here there is a large colony of sea lions which rested after being out in the open sea for a long time. First we went to an Islet for snorkeling to see the underwater world of the Galapagos. The friendly sea lions made the outing more than exciting and cave exploring and tons of tropical fish were part of the experience as well. Later the beach awaited us giving us an opportunity to enjoy the sunbathing animals and the deep blue water.
As the day continued we enjoyed a very special Ecuadorian buffet lunch. Unique and delicious!
Later in the afternoon we moved to a place called Punta Suarez. This is one of the most spectacular sites because here you can find a wide diversity of species, from large to small ones. We went on a hike through the rock filled terrain to see more sea lions, marine iguanas and the largest bird in the Galapagos, the Waved albatross.
The day went fast because it was filled with an incredible dose of wild nature and landscapes. I’m sure the coming days will not disappoint us either.
