Española Island
It was amazing! Yes it was amazing, to have a first-hand encounter with nature at its most. Española Island is the southernmost island in the archipelago and considered to be the oldest one. This small chunk of rock is home to a number of endemic organisms, found on Española only.
Our morning walk took place at Punta Suarez on the western side that happens to be the bird’s paradise. Result of the arrival of the Humboldt Current the sea birds are already nesting in large numbers along the beautiful cliffs that adorn the place.
Marine iguanas were our welcome committee as we landed; sea lions were the high light on the beaches and the nazca boobies seem to form a carpet atop the cliffs. There is so much activity like courtship displays, feeding frenzies, chicks practicing flight and some others being fed by their parents.
The waved albatross is still arriving to Española to begin the nesting cycle that includes the most amazing mating ritual to eventually settle in little a place without rocks to lay a single egg for the season; by December most of them would have left the island on a long journey to the colder Peruvian waters.
After repositioning the ship we landed at Gardner Bay for an enjoyable afternoon full of activities such as kayaking and snorkeling in calm waters surrounded by large schools of fish. After a few minutes sea lions appeared and played with us for the whole length of time we were in the water!
Some of us had the opportunity to enjoy a ride on the glass bottom boat around the shallow reefs. The waters that bathe these islands are so rich in nutrients and fish, that’s why the Galápagos are a real paradise for sea birds and marine mammals.
It was amazing! Yes it was amazing, to have a first-hand encounter with nature at its most. Española Island is the southernmost island in the archipelago and considered to be the oldest one. This small chunk of rock is home to a number of endemic organisms, found on Española only.
Our morning walk took place at Punta Suarez on the western side that happens to be the bird’s paradise. Result of the arrival of the Humboldt Current the sea birds are already nesting in large numbers along the beautiful cliffs that adorn the place.
Marine iguanas were our welcome committee as we landed; sea lions were the high light on the beaches and the nazca boobies seem to form a carpet atop the cliffs. There is so much activity like courtship displays, feeding frenzies, chicks practicing flight and some others being fed by their parents.
The waved albatross is still arriving to Española to begin the nesting cycle that includes the most amazing mating ritual to eventually settle in little a place without rocks to lay a single egg for the season; by December most of them would have left the island on a long journey to the colder Peruvian waters.
After repositioning the ship we landed at Gardner Bay for an enjoyable afternoon full of activities such as kayaking and snorkeling in calm waters surrounded by large schools of fish. After a few minutes sea lions appeared and played with us for the whole length of time we were in the water!
Some of us had the opportunity to enjoy a ride on the glass bottom boat around the shallow reefs. The waters that bathe these islands are so rich in nutrients and fish, that’s why the Galápagos are a real paradise for sea birds and marine mammals.
