Española Island
Today is our first full day in the enchanted Galápagos Islands. Punta Suarez, located in the western most side of the island was the place where we disembarked. Española Island is considered one of the oldest islands in the entire archipelago. This island is very special for all of us, many species of sea birds and reptiles can be seen here. There is a very high degree of endemism on this island. There are some species that are endemic not only to the Galápagos, but to Española in particular. There is a lava lizard, a marine iguana, a mockingbird and an albatross species endemic to Española Island. Many other species like the beautiful Galápagos doves were seen. One was spotted in the nest with a couple of chicks.
We started our expedition at eight o’clock in the morning. Since the very beginning, just at the moment we set foot on the island, we were fascinated with the beauty and the richness of this isolated place. Galápagos sea lions are amazing; we felt that we have been friends with them forever. We walked to the inner part of the island following a path over rocky terrain. Soon we encountered our reward; it was in from of us, the Waved Albatross. This elegant creature is the largest seabird in the Galápagos. Waved Albatross spend some months at sea, and every year they come back by mid April. The Albatross remain on Española Island until the end of December. Once on the island the Albatross start their long mating season. The chicks that fledge will spend around seven years at sea before they reach sexual maturity
After recovering our energy with a delicious Ecuadorian buffet lunch we spent the whole afternoon on Gardner Bay. Many different activities were offered. Our guests had a lot of choices: glass bottom boat and deep water snorkeling outings, snorkeling for beginners from the beach and kayaks. Today the beach was amazing! Hundreds Galápagos sea lions were peacefully basking there. What a day we spent in this paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Today is our first full day in the enchanted Galápagos Islands. Punta Suarez, located in the western most side of the island was the place where we disembarked. Española Island is considered one of the oldest islands in the entire archipelago. This island is very special for all of us, many species of sea birds and reptiles can be seen here. There is a very high degree of endemism on this island. There are some species that are endemic not only to the Galápagos, but to Española in particular. There is a lava lizard, a marine iguana, a mockingbird and an albatross species endemic to Española Island. Many other species like the beautiful Galápagos doves were seen. One was spotted in the nest with a couple of chicks.
We started our expedition at eight o’clock in the morning. Since the very beginning, just at the moment we set foot on the island, we were fascinated with the beauty and the richness of this isolated place. Galápagos sea lions are amazing; we felt that we have been friends with them forever. We walked to the inner part of the island following a path over rocky terrain. Soon we encountered our reward; it was in from of us, the Waved Albatross. This elegant creature is the largest seabird in the Galápagos. Waved Albatross spend some months at sea, and every year they come back by mid April. The Albatross remain on Española Island until the end of December. Once on the island the Albatross start their long mating season. The chicks that fledge will spend around seven years at sea before they reach sexual maturity
After recovering our energy with a delicious Ecuadorian buffet lunch we spent the whole afternoon on Gardner Bay. Many different activities were offered. Our guests had a lot of choices: glass bottom boat and deep water snorkeling outings, snorkeling for beginners from the beach and kayaks. Today the beach was amazing! Hundreds Galápagos sea lions were peacefully basking there. What a day we spent in this paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
