The weather could have not been better today. It was cloudy in the morning, perfect for a long hike spanning several hours exploring Punta Suarez, and in the afternoon, the bright sun painted the shallow, turquoise waters of Gardner Bay. We saw Española Island at its best: cool breeze for us and the creatures of Punta Suarez, interesting behaviors to observe, and a tropical and warm sun for our snorkeling and kayaking options.
Indeed, we saw it all. There were albatrosses, adults still dancing in hopes of finding a mate, to breed next year, but also for life. Juveniles were flapping their wings, practicing for the crucial moment of their first flight, to then go out to sea until they become sexually mature. Several guests witnessed one of those first flights. The albatross approached the edge, facing south, opened its wings and got a lift from the southern trade winds to graciously glide away, heading south, in a long journey that will last at least five years.
Several guests also witnessed how the top predator in the Encantadas, the Galapagos hawk, caught and consumed a tropic bird. We saw Nazca booby nests, Darwin’s finches, and the most colorful iguanas in the archipelago. And we all stopped to enjoy the delightful amusement of baby sea lions playing in their nursery, a cozy tidal pool of Punta Suarez.
Kayaking along the cliffs of Gardner bay, snorkeling around Gardner islet, and walking on a white organic beach inhabited by sea lions, completed our lovely day at Española. After dinner, the sky was clear, so naturalist Antonio Adrian, showed us the constellations, and then, a gorgeous yellow moon rose.
