Espanola Island
The last day for a gorgeous adventure started at Gardner bay with many options. The most adventurous went deep water snorkeling at Turtle rock, an islet off Espanola Island which offered a great opportunity to enjoy the Galápagos underwater world one more time! Using the current, they drifted along with an incredible amount of silvery as well as colorful fish. Some decided to try kayaking around Gardner Bay and enjoyed the calm waters, where they were able to explore the coastal line of the oldest island of Galápagos.
Then we all joined at one of the most beautiful beaches of the archipelago, where the sand is white and feels like powder. Sea lions were everywhere, posing for the best picture of the week! This is one of the very few places where we are free to walk and sit close to the sea lions on our own time. What an incredible morning!
We reached Punta Suarez after a short navigation where we were welcomed by sea lions, marine iguanas, mocking birds and blue footed boobies! This was only the beginning, and soon we saw three American oystercatchers, a yellow crowned night heron and a lava heron. As we continued our hike over the lava boulders, we were very careful not to step on the Espanola lava lizards, as large males and gracious females were crossing the path continuously. Furthermore, we wondered at the white color of the Nazca boobies and stood so close to them, amazed by their tameness or what we better call “ecological naiveté.” The Galápagos hawk reminded us that he is on top of the food chain as he wandered around for a next meal close to nesting blue footed boobies with chicks.
We had to stop a while at the blow hole, where many albatrosses delighted us as they passed very close. However, it was especially impressive to see the waved albatrosses taking off from their airport! Landing was a very difficult target. After waiting for an albatross to land and counting up to ten attempts to land, we decided it was time to head back on board the Islander. It was a great experience and the end of an expedition that will last in our memories for many years!
The last day for a gorgeous adventure started at Gardner bay with many options. The most adventurous went deep water snorkeling at Turtle rock, an islet off Espanola Island which offered a great opportunity to enjoy the Galápagos underwater world one more time! Using the current, they drifted along with an incredible amount of silvery as well as colorful fish. Some decided to try kayaking around Gardner Bay and enjoyed the calm waters, where they were able to explore the coastal line of the oldest island of Galápagos.
Then we all joined at one of the most beautiful beaches of the archipelago, where the sand is white and feels like powder. Sea lions were everywhere, posing for the best picture of the week! This is one of the very few places where we are free to walk and sit close to the sea lions on our own time. What an incredible morning!
We reached Punta Suarez after a short navigation where we were welcomed by sea lions, marine iguanas, mocking birds and blue footed boobies! This was only the beginning, and soon we saw three American oystercatchers, a yellow crowned night heron and a lava heron. As we continued our hike over the lava boulders, we were very careful not to step on the Espanola lava lizards, as large males and gracious females were crossing the path continuously. Furthermore, we wondered at the white color of the Nazca boobies and stood so close to them, amazed by their tameness or what we better call “ecological naiveté.” The Galápagos hawk reminded us that he is on top of the food chain as he wandered around for a next meal close to nesting blue footed boobies with chicks.
We had to stop a while at the blow hole, where many albatrosses delighted us as they passed very close. However, it was especially impressive to see the waved albatrosses taking off from their airport! Landing was a very difficult target. After waiting for an albatross to land and counting up to ten attempts to land, we decided it was time to head back on board the Islander. It was a great experience and the end of an expedition that will last in our memories for many years!
