Española Island: what a wonderful highlight!
We started our morning’s activities at Punta Suarez, and as we boarded our Zodiacs and set off towards the island, we could already spot the first sea lions playing in the surf, approaching our Zodiacs and riding their bow waves. So far, there could not have been a better start to our very first full day in the Galápagos.
We went ashore and our amazement was even greater when iguanas, sea lions and mocking birds were fearless and refused to move out of the paths. We thought we were in wonderland! The sea lions’ breeding season has started in the Galápagos, and enchanting newborn sea lions litter the beaches but this wasn’t all. Adults and juveniles were found lounging on the beach as well. As we walked on, we discovered yet more new things, such as gorgeous cliff formations inhabited by hundreds of Nazca boobies. These elegant large white birds had already started their nesting cycles, thus we got to see behavior like dancing, pebble collecting and whistling. A bit further away we found a Galápagos hawk perching on a rock and ready to take off in search of its first daily meal. This large bird occupies the top of the food chain in these islands and we count ourselves very lucky to have seen three during the outing. No doubt this place is unbelievable due to the concentration of wildlife, especially with the majestic waved albatross that makes exceptional voyages in the trackless southern ocean.
After a delicious lunch that of course we deserved, we started the second part of our daily activities: the snorkeling site and the white sand beach were undoubtedly a highlight. To some of us this was the first time we snorkeled, and to see such variety of fish, diversity of colors and the experience itself was breathtaking!
Why not give a special mention to the beach: so white, soft and home to that abundant resident marine mammal, the graceful Galápagos sea lion.
Truly unforgettable.
We started our morning’s activities at Punta Suarez, and as we boarded our Zodiacs and set off towards the island, we could already spot the first sea lions playing in the surf, approaching our Zodiacs and riding their bow waves. So far, there could not have been a better start to our very first full day in the Galápagos.
We went ashore and our amazement was even greater when iguanas, sea lions and mocking birds were fearless and refused to move out of the paths. We thought we were in wonderland! The sea lions’ breeding season has started in the Galápagos, and enchanting newborn sea lions litter the beaches but this wasn’t all. Adults and juveniles were found lounging on the beach as well. As we walked on, we discovered yet more new things, such as gorgeous cliff formations inhabited by hundreds of Nazca boobies. These elegant large white birds had already started their nesting cycles, thus we got to see behavior like dancing, pebble collecting and whistling. A bit further away we found a Galápagos hawk perching on a rock and ready to take off in search of its first daily meal. This large bird occupies the top of the food chain in these islands and we count ourselves very lucky to have seen three during the outing. No doubt this place is unbelievable due to the concentration of wildlife, especially with the majestic waved albatross that makes exceptional voyages in the trackless southern ocean.
After a delicious lunch that of course we deserved, we started the second part of our daily activities: the snorkeling site and the white sand beach were undoubtedly a highlight. To some of us this was the first time we snorkeled, and to see such variety of fish, diversity of colors and the experience itself was breathtaking!
Why not give a special mention to the beach: so white, soft and home to that abundant resident marine mammal, the graceful Galápagos sea lion.
Truly unforgettable.