Espanola Island: Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez, 6/13/2022, National Geographic Islander
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander
Galápagos
In the morning our guests departed the ship very early to explore the rocky shores of Gardner Bay. After breakfast, some of our travelers left to snorkel in deep waters and some spent time on the beautiful Gardner Beach to swim, snorkel, and relax surrounded by crystal clear waters, pure white sand, and sea lions.
In the afternoon, National Geographic Islander repositioned to Punta Suarez for our hikes in search of wildlife. We offered a long hike to the Galapagos albatross “airport” and a short version of that walk for more stationary wildlife observation at a slower pace.
Socrates was raised on Santa Cruz Island located in the heart of Galapagos Archipelago. He had a childhood filled with swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing and volunteering in conservation projects, so it was natural for him to grow very passionate ...
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.
Today the guests of National Geographic Islander II had a chance to snorkel at Champion Islet, just off Floreana Island. It was a breathtaking expedition to one of the most vibrant marine ecosystems in the Galapagos. As soon as we slipped into the water, we were greeted by schools of colorful fish and playful Galapagos sea lions.
On the first full day of our expedition, we visited Bartolomé, a famous island located on the eastern side of Santiago Island. We had an early start with a morning walk and a Zodiac exploration. After a walk up 372 stairs, we were rewarded with an iconic view of the Galápagos, made famous in the movie “Master and Commander.” We finished our visit with an underwater exploration to observe Bartolomé’s marine life. In the afternoon, we continued toward the western side of Santa Cruz Island to explore Cerro Dragón, also known as Dragon Hill. The site is named after the endemic Galapagos land iguana. We took a 1.7 mile walk through a dry forest to spot the iconic iguanas and many endemic locusts.
