Today we experienced a new environment full of surprises as we explore Española Island. Turquoise waters surrounded us as we entered the water to experience this undersea world. Young Galapagos sea lions swam among us, blowing bubbles and grabbing our fins in their mouths, showing us how to properly play in this setting. Large schools of razor surgeonfish swam below us, with marbled stingrays tucked in among the rocks with brightly colored cup coral covering the rocky substrate.
Landing on the fine white sandy beach allowed us to encounter sea lions in their territorial ecosystem with the occasional Española mockingbird flitting about, even landing on beach goers. In the afternoon, we continued with our exploration inland, meeting endemic waved albatross, Darwin finches, Nazca boobies, red-billed tropicbirds as we maneuver over the broken volcanic terrain. As the sun set between the grey clouds, we were completely content in this little world.
