Our day began with a very relaxing morning at Gardner Bay. We enjoyed a nice time on the beach with strong sun and the company of a massive colony of sea lions. The weather was humid, and we had wonderful views. Later, we moved to Punta Suarez and took a great hike. We spotted various marine birds, including a colony of Nazca boobies. We observed the amazing landscape of the eroded, mature island with its pronounced cliffs and a bunch of crashing waves.
9/1/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Española Island
Today we visited Española, one of the oldest islands of the archipelago. We started with an early morning walk along a beautiful white sand bay with a colony of sea lions. We even had an opportunity to enjoy a close encounter with a pair of juvenile Galapagos hawks! Later, we enjoyed the warm waters of Garner Bay by snorkeling, exploring the shoreline, and looking for wildlife. In the afternoon, we visited one of the most spectacular cliffsides of the Galapagos on Punta Suarez. Here, we witnessed the courtship ritual of the waved albatross, the largest marine bird in the Galapagos and one with a beautiful love story. Nesting Nazca and blue-footed boobies and large groups of marine iguanas were some of the highlights of this amazing hike. The waves, the light at sunset, the famous Española blowhole, and the amazing landscapes made for a perfect first full day of exploration.