Española Island

Punta Suarez is at the western most side of Española, where an amazing range of endemism is found. We were welcomed by a few brand new baby sea lions that kept their mothers busy wanting to go with us on the walk. Marine iguanas, attractive male lava lizards, were impressing females by doing push ups and showing off their aggressive behavior towards other males in the area. As soon as we started to walk, we realized that everywhere we looked, there was life… species doing their own things, some were sleeping, some were eating and some were getting ready to get into the water. It is hard to believe that some of the creatures we see on this island now, like the marine iguanas or the mocking birds, looked different thousands of years ago, species that have adapted by using different mechanisms to be able to survive and be here today.

After a delicious Ecuadorian buffet, we repositioned the ship in Gardner Bay, at the eastern coast of Española. Water activities filled up the time for our guests in the afternoon, some went for the glass bottom boat, some went deep water snorkeling and kayaking, while others took their first snorkeling lesson… it was so much fun!

What a different day than yesterday, some friends could not believe they were at the same archipelago the day before.