Española Island
Punta Suarez on Española Island is by far the glowing jewel of the crown of the Galápagos Archipelago. It is truly a shocking experience to have this place as your first visit to the islands.
As soon as you set foot on the island, you are welcomed by an impressive display of wildlife right at the landing spot. What a magnificent welcome committee! Bright red Sally light foot crabs, red and green Marine iguanas, large male and female Española lava lizards, lots of playful Galápagos baby sea lions, Brown pelicans, Blue footed and Nazca boobies adults and chicks, Red billed Tropicbirds, Galápagos Hawks, and American oystercatchers, among other animal species, were around the disembarkation area! It was just a delight to observe this abundance. We could not believe it, all this wilderness at such close range.
This first trail of the week was a challenging one, mostly because its length, the many rocky boulders along it, and the high temperatures and humidity of the environment. We walked for around three hours on boulders, with eighty percent humidity and at one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Our iced water bottles became warm just after the first ten minutes of the walk. It was very important to follow the instructions of the Naturalists who were helping us measure out our water so we wouldn’t get dehydrated. Our guests did a great job and good time despite the harsh conditions.
From January to May, the Galápagos Islands get very hot. The walks can be challenging because of this but, on the other hand the water temperature is over seventy five degrees Fahrenheit and snorkelers can stay longer in the water than at other times of the year.
After lunch the National Geographic Polaris was anchored at Gardner Bay, a place where hundreds of Galápagos sea lions shared their home with us. The sea lions were basking on the warm sun at a wonderful white sandy beach. We had a very happy and active afternoon, as we had several different activities. Glass bottom boat outings, kayaking, snorkeling, and beach time were some of the options offered by our Expedition Leader, Carlos Romero. We all had a great time and actively participated in all the activities. This was definitely a spectacular first full day in paradise.
Punta Suarez on Española Island is by far the glowing jewel of the crown of the Galápagos Archipelago. It is truly a shocking experience to have this place as your first visit to the islands.
As soon as you set foot on the island, you are welcomed by an impressive display of wildlife right at the landing spot. What a magnificent welcome committee! Bright red Sally light foot crabs, red and green Marine iguanas, large male and female Española lava lizards, lots of playful Galápagos baby sea lions, Brown pelicans, Blue footed and Nazca boobies adults and chicks, Red billed Tropicbirds, Galápagos Hawks, and American oystercatchers, among other animal species, were around the disembarkation area! It was just a delight to observe this abundance. We could not believe it, all this wilderness at such close range.
This first trail of the week was a challenging one, mostly because its length, the many rocky boulders along it, and the high temperatures and humidity of the environment. We walked for around three hours on boulders, with eighty percent humidity and at one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Our iced water bottles became warm just after the first ten minutes of the walk. It was very important to follow the instructions of the Naturalists who were helping us measure out our water so we wouldn’t get dehydrated. Our guests did a great job and good time despite the harsh conditions.
From January to May, the Galápagos Islands get very hot. The walks can be challenging because of this but, on the other hand the water temperature is over seventy five degrees Fahrenheit and snorkelers can stay longer in the water than at other times of the year.
After lunch the National Geographic Polaris was anchored at Gardner Bay, a place where hundreds of Galápagos sea lions shared their home with us. The sea lions were basking on the warm sun at a wonderful white sandy beach. We had a very happy and active afternoon, as we had several different activities. Glass bottom boat outings, kayaking, snorkeling, and beach time were some of the options offered by our Expedition Leader, Carlos Romero. We all had a great time and actively participated in all the activities. This was definitely a spectacular first full day in paradise.
