Captain Garces and our crew hauled up the anchor before midnight and we navigated south until just before dawn. The National Geographic Islander was anchored off the northern coast of Española Island when we awoke. The early risers among us joined naturalist Pato for a pre-breakfast paddle in the bright yellow kayaks. What a lovely way to start the day, paddling among the sea turtles!
After a hearty breakfast I gave a snorkel safety briefing and then we all went up to the sky deck where the guides passed out snorkeling equipment and fitted everyone with wet suits, masks, snorkels and fins. Then we took three Zodiacs of guests to snorkel along the coast of tiny Gardner Islet. A northern swell had the water churned up and the visibility poor, but a group of curious and friendly young sea lions that dove and swam among us provided great fun and entertainment!
We went shoeless onto the white sand beach, made of fine organic particles that never get hot in the sun. Here some of us tried out our snorkeling gear and there was time to swim, to relax, or take a stroll down the beach. Sea lions and the cheeky endemic Espanola mocking birds shared the beach with us this morning.
The buffet lunch today was a grandioso affair, complete with a suckling pig and many traditional foods from both the coast and the highlands of Ecuador. Then a well-deserved siesta, also an Ecuadorian tradition after such a delicious meal, was welcome. Meanwhile I took the kids on a tour of the bridge with our second officer.
As the afternoon cooled off three groups of guests went out to walk among the lava boulders on Punta Suarez with guides Greg, Jonathan and Pato. This was an amazing two hour hike and they saw numerous species of birds and animals. There were sea lions (of course), reddish marine iguanas, nesting Nazca boobies with eggs and chicks, nocturnal swallow tailed gulls and the elegant waved albatross. When we reached a cliff overlooking the coast we saw a blow hole and watched as water forced thru a lava crack with each successive wave push a wall of spray skyward. Meanwhile I took a Zodiac ride inside the bay with the non-hikers and we had a great time, too!
Back on board in the evening Greg explained about the Geology of Galapagos and Pato taught us the difference between seals (not found in Galapagos) and sea lions (two species are found here!). I gave the evening briefing in preparation for tomorrow’s visit to Floreana Island and after dinner our Photo Instructor, Jonathan gave a presentation about nature photography. We’ve had a busy and exciting day in the enchanted Islands of Galapagos!
