Española Island
Today we landed on the southeastern island of Española, formerly known as Hood Island. In the morning we visited Gardner Bay, where we walked along a dazzling white beach among dozens of resting sea lions and snorkeled around the small offshore islet of Gardner, where fish life abounds. For the non-snorkelers, there was the alternative of taking a ride in our glass-bottom boat to glimpse the life below the surface, or explore the wonderful bay while kayaking along the volcanic coastline.
Soon the morning was over and it was time to replenish our energy with a fantastic lunch while our ship repositioned to the western tip of the island, to a place named Punta Suarez, one of the richest wildlife locations in Galápagos. Sea lions and marine iguanas greeted us as we stepped ashore and it was amazing to see so many baby sea lions playing in the tide pools or nursing with their mothers while a male was patrolling the water. Further along the trail, we spotted the famous endemic waved albatrosses, and we were lucky to see young chicks and some couples displaying their fascinating courtship, before they abandon the islands when the breeding season is over.
Side-by-side and along the cliff, hundreds of blue-footed and Nazca boobies were courting, incubating eggs or feeding their babies. While admiring these fascinating animals, we also took notice of the smaller denizens of this island: the lava lizards, hood mockingbirds and Darwin's finches that are unique here.
What an incredible way to start our Galápagos adventure. Places like this are just an example of the unique ecosystem of these enchanted Islands.
