Española Island
Today began, for nine of our guests, with a kayaking outing along the cliffs of the islet of Gardner off the southeastern and oldest island of Española. We were escorted by sea lions as we explored the caves and shoreline of this beautiful, rocky islet. A group of guests stretched with Wellness Specialist Maribel on the top deck under an azure sky; what a magnificent way to start the day. The rest of us got to sleep in and then we all shared a delicious buffet breakfast in the ship’s dining room.
This morning we had several options: a small group headed off for a second round in the kayaks, we sent two Zodiacs of snorkelers off and I took a group into the lovely, white sand beach at Gardner Bay. There were more sea lions that traveled with us, and we felt quite happy in their company. We were reluctant to leave the pristine beach, but back on the ship, lunch gave us a sense of time in this out of the world place…
The afternoon’s visit was arguably an example of “saving the best for last.” The incredible hike at Punta Suarez, was our chance to see dozens of the hundreds of majestic endemic waved albatross that have been returning all month following their yearly migration. They have returned from the middle of the open ocean to the only island in the world where they nest. We had the opportunity of seeing albatross courtship, mating and even the first egg of the season!
Blue footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow tail gulls and red bill tropic birds provided us with our last, and lasting, impressions of the magical Galápagos.
Today began, for nine of our guests, with a kayaking outing along the cliffs of the islet of Gardner off the southeastern and oldest island of Española. We were escorted by sea lions as we explored the caves and shoreline of this beautiful, rocky islet. A group of guests stretched with Wellness Specialist Maribel on the top deck under an azure sky; what a magnificent way to start the day. The rest of us got to sleep in and then we all shared a delicious buffet breakfast in the ship’s dining room.
This morning we had several options: a small group headed off for a second round in the kayaks, we sent two Zodiacs of snorkelers off and I took a group into the lovely, white sand beach at Gardner Bay. There were more sea lions that traveled with us, and we felt quite happy in their company. We were reluctant to leave the pristine beach, but back on the ship, lunch gave us a sense of time in this out of the world place…
The afternoon’s visit was arguably an example of “saving the best for last.” The incredible hike at Punta Suarez, was our chance to see dozens of the hundreds of majestic endemic waved albatross that have been returning all month following their yearly migration. They have returned from the middle of the open ocean to the only island in the world where they nest. We had the opportunity of seeing albatross courtship, mating and even the first egg of the season!
Blue footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow tail gulls and red bill tropic birds provided us with our last, and lasting, impressions of the magical Galápagos.
