Today we explored Hood Island, which is the oldest island in the archipelago. Hood Island is also the most south-eastern island, and it is the home of several species of seabirds and has some very impressive landscapes. This morning we stopped at Gardner Bay, on the northern coast of Hood, which is well known for the large colony of Galapagos sea lions that live here, and the great snorkeling along the coast of Gardner Islet.
At the end of the morning, we navigated along the cliffs of Hood and got to the western realm of this island, to a spot called Punta Suarez. Our walk took us through the colonies of Nazca boobies, and Galapagos waved albatross, which are currently nesting, and we had the chance to see some couples displaying their very elaborate courtship ritual. We admired as couples engaged in beak fencing, and we listened carefully to hear the soft sounds that they make to impress their future partner. Along the cliffs, we also marveled at “the blow hole” and its very impressive column of water, spraying high up in the air.
As we started to go back towards the ship, we still observed several couples of albatross and single ones looking for a partner. We left the island and its volcanic landscapes behind, so full of life and impressive waves that added a dramatic look of Hood, the oldest island in the archipelago.
