Espanola Island
Espanola is a spectacular place to spend a day: pure and pristine. Being one of the most eastern islands in the Galapagos, Espanola is also one of the oldest. Part of its beauty comes from the dramatic cliffs along the eastern side of the island. These are used as a take off point by the endemic waved albatross. The albatross have just come back to the archipelago after several months at sea.
At Punta Suarez we followed a rocky trail, probably the most difficult one we will hike this week. However it was immediately obvious to everybody that the extra effort was really worth it. Along this boulder strewn trail there is a fantastic amount of wild life: lava lizards, mockingbirds, swallow tail gulls, Nazca boobies, and blue footed boobies who are just beginning their nesting season. The blue foots are displaying, doing their courtship dances. This is one of the most beautiful rituals that exist on our planet (see today’s photo).
The albatross were absent from the Galapagos since the heat build up at their nesting areas in the beginning of the year. Every week we have landed at Punta Suarez hoping to find that they had returned to Espanola. A few weeks ago we began seeing them and now we are anticipating the first eggs and chicks.
It was an interesting and exciting morning, but the afternoon too was fantastic! We went snorkeling around Roca Tortuga, and then spent some time on a white beach with sand so fine it felt like cake flour. The beach at Gardner Bay is without a doubt one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. We shared the lovely, fine coralline sand, with many sea lions, marine iguanas, and several different species of marine birds. Just another day in Galapagos. Another day in an amazing paradise!
Espanola is a spectacular place to spend a day: pure and pristine. Being one of the most eastern islands in the Galapagos, Espanola is also one of the oldest. Part of its beauty comes from the dramatic cliffs along the eastern side of the island. These are used as a take off point by the endemic waved albatross. The albatross have just come back to the archipelago after several months at sea.
At Punta Suarez we followed a rocky trail, probably the most difficult one we will hike this week. However it was immediately obvious to everybody that the extra effort was really worth it. Along this boulder strewn trail there is a fantastic amount of wild life: lava lizards, mockingbirds, swallow tail gulls, Nazca boobies, and blue footed boobies who are just beginning their nesting season. The blue foots are displaying, doing their courtship dances. This is one of the most beautiful rituals that exist on our planet (see today’s photo).
The albatross were absent from the Galapagos since the heat build up at their nesting areas in the beginning of the year. Every week we have landed at Punta Suarez hoping to find that they had returned to Espanola. A few weeks ago we began seeing them and now we are anticipating the first eggs and chicks.
It was an interesting and exciting morning, but the afternoon too was fantastic! We went snorkeling around Roca Tortuga, and then spent some time on a white beach with sand so fine it felt like cake flour. The beach at Gardner Bay is without a doubt one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. We shared the lovely, fine coralline sand, with many sea lions, marine iguanas, and several different species of marine birds. Just another day in Galapagos. Another day in an amazing paradise!
