We woke up this morning off Española Island with a day ahead of us on this amazing island to explore the beach, check out the snorkeling site and see colonies of seabirds. Española is the oldest island in this region and it happens to be one of the best places to visit during an expedition in the Galápagos Islands.
We were up early and observed the landscape before we’d even eaten breakfast. It was a beautiful opportunity to spot seabirds, sea lions, sea turtles and some small islets that decorate this magnificent island. At mid-morning we explored Gardner Islet with snorkeling gear in hand. The water was a little cool; I would say refreshing and it was full of creatures like sea lions, sea turtles and tropical fish all around us. What an opportunity for an introduction to the marine world of Galápagos!
After we had finished snorkeling we came back to the ship for hot chocolate and to get changed, before disembarking on Gardner Beach. This beach is made up of white sand and it is home to the iconic Galápagos sea lions. They always rest on the beach and can often be seen playing with each other and swimming in the shallow turquoise water.
Later on after lunch we went to a different side of Española Island. It was breathtaking on this side, like another world! The wildlife is exquisite! As we explored the island we walked through colonies of marine iguanas. These lizards are healthy and enjoying plenty of food due to the cool temperature of the sea. We also saw colonies of seabirds, including waved albatross, swallow-tailed gulls and Nazca booby birds. These large birds nest by the thousands and they are here for most of the year.
This place is the best blend of wildlife plus landscapes. The island is surrounded by cliffs, which happen to be home to thousands of shearwaters and brown noddy birds. The flat inland forest is the nesting site for the iconic waved albatross. This bird is the largest in the Galápagos and a real trophy for birdwatchers. This is the only species of tropical albatross, and Española Island is the only nesting site for the species: therefore, it is endemic to Española Island!
It was an amazing day!
