Española or Hood Island

The impression this morning at Punta Suarez was that something magical was happening in front of our eyes. As soon as we arrived, hundreds of red marine iguanas appeared from nowhere and began eating the bright green algae that covers the rocks. Sea lions were playing in the water and surfing. Red, orange and black Sally lightfoot crabs were covering the dark boulders. Blue-footed boobies were dancing, whistling and honking to attract each other. We could see Hood lava lizards jumping and communicating with “push-ups” all over the trail. A very curious young sea lion decided to come close and analyze us by sniffing our shoes and tickling us with its whiskers. A couple of red-billed tropic birds were nesting close to the cliffs just beside the trail. Usually you would see a couple of waved albatross in courtship, but today we saw three dancing at the same time! Probably they were trying to find out who would be mates for life.

This was not all – there was a baby boom in the island! Little heads started to show up under the adults of blue-footed booby, many brown fluffy waved albatross chicks were waiting for their parents, baby sea lions were nursing and miniature marine iguanas came out of the rocks. Just when we thought we’d seen it all, a waved albatross chick hatched from the egg right in front of our eyes.

We also had a great time snorkeling with sea lions at Gardner islet; they were playing and swimming in front of our faces. To finish the day, we relaxed in the company of sea lions at the white sandy beach made out of parrot fish droppings – very soft by the way. So much to see in just one day, what a unique place!