Española Island, 7/25/2021, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
On our first full day exploring the Enchanted Isles, our beautiful ship took us to Española, or Hood Island. Located in the southeastern extreme of the archipelago, this is one of the oldest and most amazing islands. Here, critters have had a longer span of time to evolve into new forms from their ancestors, having established themselves in the area thousands of years ago.
Gaby was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Her first job in the Galapagos was on board a 90-passenger cruise ship as the cruise director’s assistant, and she fell under the spell of the Enchanted Isles. She returned to Guayaquil to study at the ...
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Today’s expedition began at Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island, one of the most pristine and volcanically active islands in the Galápagos. As we stepped onto the black lava fields, we were greeted by marine iguanas piled together to absorb the early sun. In a moment that captured the curiosities of Galápagos, we spotted a lava lizard perched on the head of one of the marine iguanas, which is an iconic example of the island’s unique interactions between species. Just steps away, a flightless cormorant spread its wings to dry. These remarkable birds, having lost the ability to fly, have instead evolved into powerful swimmers, diving with agility beneath the waves. Along the coastline, a brown pelican standing on the canopy of a red mangrove tree was patiently waiting, then gracefully plunged into the water to catch some fish. In the afternoon, we navigated the dramatic coastline of Punta Vicente Roca at North Isabela. The towering cliffs, sculpted by wind and sea, framed the perfect backdrop for observing seabirds and marine life. The combination of volcanic landscapes, intimate wildlife encounters, and the beauty of nature made today truly unforgettable.
Today we visited the easternmost point in the Galapagos, Mount Pitt. This site is home to a nesting colony of red-footed boobies, frigates, and a few blue-footed boobies. During our morning hike we spotted not only these species, but a few endemic lava lizards, an endemic centipede, and a few finches. The afternoon was a very relaxing one, as we enjoyed swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Cerro Brujo and walking along its white sand beach. Later in the afternoon we circumnavigated the famous landmark known as Kicker Rock. It was a great day!
This morning, National Geographic Gemini anchored at South Plaza Island where we enjoyed a nature walk. We found the Galapagos land iguana, swallow-tailed gulls nesting, sea lions and Darwin’s finches. In the afternoon, we explored the underwater wonders of Santa Fe Island, including playful sea lions, turtles, a ray, and many different colorful fish. These amazing creatures made it an incredible experience! After a quick change of clothes, we went inland to look for the Santa Fe land iguana and the beautiful forest of giant Opuntia cacti. It was definitely a wonderful first full day in the Galapagos!
