Española Island
Being back to the oldest island in Galápagos is like going back in time; this place was once very active, but now it’s an extinct volcano with many unique species found nowhere else in the world.
Without a doubt, the waved albatrosses were the main attraction in the morning. After over a mile walk, the first ones were spotted and together with them we found their babies. It’s so fascinating to know that they come all the way from the west coast of South America year after year and to the same place, and that is the reason why they are considered to be endemic to Española. Soon they will start their way back to their oceanic live, but this time their juveniles will leave with them as well. All the adults will come back next year, while the inexperienced ones after four or five years (the time they need to become sexually mature).
Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, three species of the famous finches, piles of marine iguanas, mockingbirds, and hawks were just a few species that we saw.
After an amazing morning experience we continued our adventure in a different place on the same island, but this time our activities took place in the water and along one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. And, without a doubt, the main attractions this time were the Galápagos sea lions, in the water and on the beach.
This is just the beginning of our week here in paradise, and our guests are very happy already to be here, thinking that it will be difficult to top this day. But for our own experience as naturalist guides, we know that each island has its own beauty. We are one hundred percent sure that by the end of the week our National Geographic Endeavour guests will fall in love with Galápagos.
