Española Island

Just before 6:00am we arrived at Gardner Bay. The day was clear and sunny. Kayakers were ready for their early pre-breakfast outing near Gardner Islet. The water was very calm and quiet, and the light was perfect.

Soon after breakfast, deep water snorkelers had their very last chance to explore the Galápagos underwater world. King angels, yellow-tailed surgeons and parrot fish were some of the species to be found, but of course the highlight as always, sea lions, playful and naïf as ever!

Once the water activities were finished, we landed on the beautiful white coral sand of Gardner beach, where hundreds of sea lions were resting and recovering from their long fishing journeys. Females with pups, young ones and big females were all together, while the beach masters were barking and barking out in the water.

Hood mockingbirds immediately approach us, perhaps looking for some water that we were not allowed to give them. Some of them where digging on the sand until finally, a couple of small sea turtles were found and were part of their morning meal.

By midday we returned to the ship for a delicious lunch and for some rest before our last walk at Punta Suarez, among sea lions, Española marine iguanas, blue-footed bobbies, Hood mockingbirds, Galápagos doves and of course the majestic Waved Albatrosses, the only species of albatross nesting in Galápagos.

Blue-footed boobies and Nazca boobies were courting, while some had already young babies. Española male marine iguanas were showing bright green and red colors, as a prelude of the mating season coming in the following weeks. Young albatrosses were softly camouflaged under the vegetation, while some adults court under the clear sky.

A light garúa followed us for a brief period of the walk, but soon it disappeared, replaced by a warm subtle light, bringing rich warm colors to the landscape.

As we were nearing the hike’s end, a young sea lion surprised us in the middle of the trail and soon we realized that we were in his domain. So, with a humble attitude, we had to modify our walk to let him go back to sleep under the clear skies of Española.

Our last walk came to end with a bright red sunset.