Española Island
Española is one of oldest islands in the archipelago, as a result it is very low and flat, thus below the cloud level and very dry. It abounds in wildlife, seabirds in particular although reptiles and sea lions are present in large numbers too. This morning we visited a point called “Punta Suarez” where we saw many different creatures. Not two minutes into our outing, right there at the landing spot, we were greeted by a large welcome committee, which included marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, an endemic mocking bird and several Darwin’s finches. The rest of the walk easily lived up to the first impressions, as we wandered through large colonies of blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies and waved albatrosses.
The wonders did not end here however, but overflowed into the afternoon, when we visited the eastern corner of this island, the site of the most spectacular white organic beach in the Galapagos. In this area we had the opportunity to go snorkeling, glass bottom boating and to stroll amongst the sea lions and other inhabitants of this spectacular beach. The snorkelers had a great time. They saw different tropical fish, giant sea stars, eagle rays and also sharks swimming very close to us: it was very exciting!
At this time of year, sea lions are busy giving birth, so the colony on the beach contained many babies looking for their mothers, young ones playing with the waves, and a big male sea lion protecting his territory. These large males are called beach masters, and can weigh over 300 hundred pounds! Each beach master may count about 15 or 20 females in his territory and he has to be very strong to protect them from other male sea lions.
We had a great day!
Española is one of oldest islands in the archipelago, as a result it is very low and flat, thus below the cloud level and very dry. It abounds in wildlife, seabirds in particular although reptiles and sea lions are present in large numbers too. This morning we visited a point called “Punta Suarez” where we saw many different creatures. Not two minutes into our outing, right there at the landing spot, we were greeted by a large welcome committee, which included marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, an endemic mocking bird and several Darwin’s finches. The rest of the walk easily lived up to the first impressions, as we wandered through large colonies of blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies and waved albatrosses.
The wonders did not end here however, but overflowed into the afternoon, when we visited the eastern corner of this island, the site of the most spectacular white organic beach in the Galapagos. In this area we had the opportunity to go snorkeling, glass bottom boating and to stroll amongst the sea lions and other inhabitants of this spectacular beach. The snorkelers had a great time. They saw different tropical fish, giant sea stars, eagle rays and also sharks swimming very close to us: it was very exciting!
At this time of year, sea lions are busy giving birth, so the colony on the beach contained many babies looking for their mothers, young ones playing with the waves, and a big male sea lion protecting his territory. These large males are called beach masters, and can weigh over 300 hundred pounds! Each beach master may count about 15 or 20 females in his territory and he has to be very strong to protect them from other male sea lions.
We had a great day!
