Espanola Island
Nature opened the day with the impressive turquoise waters at Gardner Bay. As we were having breakfast on the top deck, we could see from a distance the sea lion territories on the white sandy beach. In the late morning, some guests went kayaking, some of us went snorkelling and several went to the beach to relax and walk. The snorkelling site, Tortuga Rock, showed us its crowded underwater world with lots of schools from different species. Furthermore, a tiger snake eel, white-tipped reef sharks, rays, and sea turtles were spotted. Surprisingly, a hammer-head shark was seen! Afterwards, we all went to the beach and enjoyed the interaction and sea lion behaviours: pups nursing, the bull patrolling or simply posing for the last pictures.
After noon we moved to Punta Suarez on the northern coast. Espanola is one of the oldest volcanoes and made us appreciate how time and nature work together. It has its own mockingbird, lava lizard, giant tortoise and marine iguana specie. John Lennon would have been disappointed with our welcome committee. It wasn’t exactly love and peace as the world should be, as we encountered two red-green male marine iguanas triceratops fighting style. The breeding season is starting and these troublemakers fought up till the 8th round! The Espanola mockingbird wanted to show us the trail and curiously, followed us.
We changed wildlife neighbourhoods, and we walked through “Boobieland.” Nazca boobies were with their chicks and blue-footed boobies were performing. Besides, we witnessed a juvenile waved albatross stretching its wings…almost ready to leave the island. He won’t come back to the island for five years, until he reaches maturity and mates for life.
And the marvellous process of evolution will continue…
Nature opened the day with the impressive turquoise waters at Gardner Bay. As we were having breakfast on the top deck, we could see from a distance the sea lion territories on the white sandy beach. In the late morning, some guests went kayaking, some of us went snorkelling and several went to the beach to relax and walk. The snorkelling site, Tortuga Rock, showed us its crowded underwater world with lots of schools from different species. Furthermore, a tiger snake eel, white-tipped reef sharks, rays, and sea turtles were spotted. Surprisingly, a hammer-head shark was seen! Afterwards, we all went to the beach and enjoyed the interaction and sea lion behaviours: pups nursing, the bull patrolling or simply posing for the last pictures.
After noon we moved to Punta Suarez on the northern coast. Espanola is one of the oldest volcanoes and made us appreciate how time and nature work together. It has its own mockingbird, lava lizard, giant tortoise and marine iguana specie. John Lennon would have been disappointed with our welcome committee. It wasn’t exactly love and peace as the world should be, as we encountered two red-green male marine iguanas triceratops fighting style. The breeding season is starting and these troublemakers fought up till the 8th round! The Espanola mockingbird wanted to show us the trail and curiously, followed us.
We changed wildlife neighbourhoods, and we walked through “Boobieland.” Nazca boobies were with their chicks and blue-footed boobies were performing. Besides, we witnessed a juvenile waved albatross stretching its wings…almost ready to leave the island. He won’t come back to the island for five years, until he reaches maturity and mates for life.
And the marvellous process of evolution will continue…
