Our first full expedition day took place on the magical island of Espanola, also known as Hood Island. Espanola Island is about 3.2 million years old, which makes it the oldest of the Galapagos Islands today. Espanola Island have been geological dead for many years, and as you observe from a distance you can only wondered what type of life could live in such an inhospitable place full of lava rocks and dry forest. As you set foot on land all your wonders fade, as you experience the overwhelmingly beautiful life on Espanola Island, a life given by its surrounding rich nutrient waters. In the morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise and a calm sea to go kayaking, and we observed many pacific green sea turtles mating. The rest of the morning we spent it snorkeling in Espanola crystal clear water and walking along its white sand beach, where a colony of sea lion come to rest. While we were having a typical Ecuadorian lunch, the Capitan moved the National Geographic Islander to the south flank of Espanola and in the afternoon we disembarked in Punta Suarez. Along the walk we had very close encounters with Christmas iguanas, numerous sea lion pups, endemic mockingbirds and lava lizards, Nazca boobies and the majestic Galapagos Hawk. A truly magical day to start a magical trip!