We enjoyed a full day of activities on Espanola, the oldest island in the Galapagos archipelago and thus teeming with wildlife. We began with an early-morning kayak along the coast of Gardner Bay. After breakfast, we spent time at Gardner Beach, where Galapagos sea lions rested after hunting for hours. Deepwater snorkeling on the leeward side of Gardner Islet was a hit, as playful sea lions came to play with our guests and big schools of fish were seen. Our afternoon was crowned with a hike at Punta Suarez, where observed the courtship behavior of waved albatrosses, who are back on Espanola after an absence of four months!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 01 May 2023
Espanola Island, 5/1/2023, National Geographic Islander II
- Aboard the National Geographic Islander II
- Galápagos
Vanessa Gallo, Naturalist
Vanessa Gallo’s grandparents arrived in the Galápagos Islands in 1936, making her the third generation of her family to live and work in this magical archipelago. She left the islands for the capital city of Quito for high school, where she discovere...
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Galápagos Escape: An 8-Day Voyage
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Today we visited Española Island, the southernmost—and one of the most spectacular—of all the Galápagos Islands. Known for its unique wildlife and dramatic landscapes, Española offered us a day full of unforgettable encounters. In the morning, we landed at Gardner Bay, where a long stretch of white coral sand welcomed us. Galápagos sea lions lounged along the shore, completely unfazed by our presence. Offshore, we snorkeled in the clear waters among colorful reef fish and Pacific green sea turtles. Playful sea lions swirled around us like underwater acrobats. In the afternoon, we explored Punta Suárez, one of the best wildlife viewing sites in the entire archipelago. The trail led us through colonies of Nazca boobies and blue-footed boobies, some engaged in nesting or courtship dances. We also witnessed waved albatrosses, many sitting on eggs or gliding in the wind above the cliffs. The highlight for many was watching a pair of albatrosses perform their elaborate, synchronized courtship ritual, full of beak clacking and head swaying. As we approached the cliff’s edge, we were treated to the dramatic sight of waves crashing against the rocks and the famous blowhole, which sent bursts of water high into the air. With seabirds soaring overhead and marine iguanas sunbathing in every direction, the magic of Española was on full display.
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