Española Island

An optional early photography walk with our National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions experts took us to one of the most famous spots for seabirds in the Galápagos, Punta Suarez. This hike is the hardest and longest one in our itinerary. All the effort was well worth it, for the reward we all had was extraordinary. The abundance of wildlife along the cliffs is astonishing. At the geological level Española Island is considered to be the oldest island in the archipelago. This island is considered by many, a key for evolution, it has become an example of isolation and time.

Specific lava lizards, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, waved albatrosses and land snake species are found only on Española. They are endemic not only in the Galápagos, but more specifically to Española. Therefore, all of them are named after the island they live on. Due to the abundance of wildlife, this paradisiacal island represents an extraordinary example of adaptive radiation in archipelagos. At around 8:00 AM we disembarked for a second time on the island. This time the walks had an emphasis on Natural History, with great opportunities for photography as well. Before lunch, Expedition Leader Carlos Romero gave a briefing explaining all the details needed for snorkeling and kayaking in Galápagos. We distributed snorkeling equipment to almost everyone onboard. It is always a joyful moment when most of our guests decide to participate in these marvelous water activities. In fact, being here in Galápagos you really cannot miss the extraordinary experiences this paradise offers our dear explorers.

After lunch, a quick nap and a talk given by National Geographic Photo expert Jay Dickman, we went back to the island again. This time, we disembarked at Gardner Bay. We had a large array of activities prepared for this afternoon. Glass bottom boat outings, deep water snorkeling, snorkeling lessons at the beach, kayaking and strolling along the beach were combined, giving everyone opportunities to enjoy this place at their own pace and explore their own particular interests.

The famous white coralline beach found in Gardner Bay is one of the best in Galápagos; its composition is pure organic material. We were in a volcanic area, that through millions of years, organic material has been breaking apart and accumulated little by little. One of our favorite activities was walking along the beach taking pictures of very large Galápagos sea lions colonies that roam around the beach.

In a nutshell, it was an extraordinary day, and in the next days there will be even more excitement to come….