Española Island, 7/22/2024, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
Española Island formed 3-5 million years ago through volcanic activity. Over time, it has become home to unique wildlife, including the Galapagos sea lions and waved albatross. The island’s unique ecology and isolated location allowed these species to evolve distinct characteristics.
Salvador Cazar studied biology at the Universidad Nacional Del Sur, Bahía Blanca, in Argentina and at the Catholic University of Ecuador. Between 1988 and 1994, Salvador worked as a naturalist and tour leader for several national and international to...
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Today is our last full day of our expedition, and we navigated all the way to San Cristobal Island to see the popular red-footed boobies. We started our morning with a pre-breakfast hike at Punta Pitt, a place with a stunning landscape full of eroded tuff cones and the only visiting site that has the three species of boobies in the Galapagos. This is the right place for bird watching! After the hike we went back on board to have breakfast, and we got ready to go back to the beach. After enjoying a delicious traditional Ecuadorian lunch, we got ready to land at Cerro Brujo which is one of the ten most beautiful beaches of the world. Here we swam with sea lions and enjoyed the spectacular scenery. We ended the day with a mesmerizing sunset circumnavigating Kicker Rock! What a fabulous last day we had in these enchanted islands.
This island is considered the oldest island in the Galapagos Archipelago, therefore many unique species can be observed here, species that can only be found on Española. The island is full of boulders, and at first glance it looks very dry and uninhabited, but as you walk along its trails you begin to discover the abundance of wildlife. Nazca boobies, Galapagos sea lions, Española mockingbirds, Española lava lizards, and several species of finches are just few of the attractions of Punta Suarez. This island provides a great opportunity for photographing ecologically naïve animals that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Get your cameras ready!
Floreana Island has outstanding natural history as well as human history. In a humble ceremony here, Ecuador took possession of the islands in 1832, and Naturalist Charles Darwin visited it three years later in 1835. This special island provides magic through its wildlife and landscapes. From visiting the famous Post Office Barrel, kayaking the calm waters of its bay, snorkeling along its satellite Champion Island, to walking on diverse sands, it all brings us closer to understanding the delicate balance of the island. This hopefully highlights the importance of connecting with nature, allowing a better appreciation and therefore a desire to protect the islands.
