Española Island
Indeed the island is a wildlife paradise. Our expedition started on the north side with a wet landing on a pure white sand beach home to the ever entertaining Galápagos sea lions. For the ones who wanted a more energetic morning we started wit the underwater realm.
Gardner bay has both land attractions and marine life where we could see all the diversity of the place: big schools of fish of different colors and sizes as well as sharks. The waters off Española Island are clear giving the visitor a great opportunity to enjoy the marine life.
Later on we all were on Gardner Beach exploring the place. We did bird watching and looked at the sea lions as they swam along the shore and as the playful pups ran in small groups and rolled on the sand as the waves broke.
After a morning full of activities that included kayaking along a dramatic cliff area, we headed to the ship for a deserved lunch and a break.
Later on we weighed anchor and departed to the eastern side of the island: Punta Suarez; dodging the typical breakers on the Zodiacs we had a dry landing and a long hike.
Punta Suarez has a wild life that has no rival such as an endemic species of mocking bird, lava lizard, cactus finch and the majestic waved albatross which is the only tropical species in the world and nests only here. We were very lucky to see not only the birds but their courtship which in most cases is seen only upon their arrival at the end of March. The blow hole is a geological formation where jets of water result of the waves are constantly produced creating a mist through which Nazca boobies, gulls and albatrosses glide, taking advantage of the updrafts produced by the trade winds.
Another attraction was the Galápagos hawks sitting on the nest and feeding their chick. We concluded with so much excitement an incredible day full of action and sightings.
Indeed the island is a wildlife paradise. Our expedition started on the north side with a wet landing on a pure white sand beach home to the ever entertaining Galápagos sea lions. For the ones who wanted a more energetic morning we started wit the underwater realm.
Gardner bay has both land attractions and marine life where we could see all the diversity of the place: big schools of fish of different colors and sizes as well as sharks. The waters off Española Island are clear giving the visitor a great opportunity to enjoy the marine life.
Later on we all were on Gardner Beach exploring the place. We did bird watching and looked at the sea lions as they swam along the shore and as the playful pups ran in small groups and rolled on the sand as the waves broke.
After a morning full of activities that included kayaking along a dramatic cliff area, we headed to the ship for a deserved lunch and a break.
Later on we weighed anchor and departed to the eastern side of the island: Punta Suarez; dodging the typical breakers on the Zodiacs we had a dry landing and a long hike.
Punta Suarez has a wild life that has no rival such as an endemic species of mocking bird, lava lizard, cactus finch and the majestic waved albatross which is the only tropical species in the world and nests only here. We were very lucky to see not only the birds but their courtship which in most cases is seen only upon their arrival at the end of March. The blow hole is a geological formation where jets of water result of the waves are constantly produced creating a mist through which Nazca boobies, gulls and albatrosses glide, taking advantage of the updrafts produced by the trade winds.
Another attraction was the Galápagos hawks sitting on the nest and feeding their chick. We concluded with so much excitement an incredible day full of action and sightings.
