This is just our first full day in Galapagos, our first adventure, our first exploration of this enchanted archipelago. We had fun from sunrise to sunset, visiting Gardner Bay in the morning and Punta Suarez in the afternoon, both places full of animals and surprises. Different adventurous activities were offered to our avid explorers, such as deep water snorkelling and hiking.
About 5 million years old, Española is the oldest island in the Galapagos. It doesn’t have the typical shape of a Galapagos shield volcano. Because of its age, it has long been exposed to erosion by wind, rain and waves. As the Nazca tectonic plate moves towards the South America continent, the islands suffered a drastic geological change, forming very interesting and dramatic cliff formations.
This archipelago has been colonized by animals and plants coming from the mainland over millions of years. Here at Española, you can see some of the earliest arrivals: marine iguanas. They are one of the best examples of adaptation and evolution. They can stay underwater for up to an hour feeding on algae like a fish. Española is one of the best islands to see how species have changed from their original ancestors.
During our activities we encountered species that live only in this island and nowhere else on our planet, such as Española mockingbirds, lava lizards, snakes, albatross, doves, finches, gulls, boobies, pelicans and many other unique sightings.
Tomorrow, another adventure awaits.
