Espanola Island
Today is our last full day in paradise. It has been a very exciting week to start our New Year. Early risers had a kayak session along the fabulous shoreline of Gardner Bay on Española Island. Sea lions, sea turtles and a magnificent rocky shore came along with them.
Once we all had breakfast, we loaded our zodiacs with those keen on snorkeling and headed towards Gardner Islet off Gardner Bay to enjoy the last super snorkeling of the trip. Schools of colorful tropical fish, sea stars, playful sea lions and more were the delight of our swimmers.
Those who like the beach enjoyed the best of times with a large number of sea lions basking on the white coralline sand. Newly born pups nursed, young sea lion males played, and female sea lions, especially the young ones, curiously approached us.
The jewel of the crown was waiting for us at our afternoon outing. The rockiest trail of the week hid the best-kept secrets of the enchanted islands. We spotted the cutest waved albatross fledglings getting ready to fly away to the open seas. This may be the last week we will see them until next year, when adults will come back to nest at the end of April. Large numbers of nesting Nazca boobies showed a white ring along the edges of the cliffs along the visiting trail in Punta Suarez on Española Island.
Blue-footed boobies have chosen little corners here and there to gather together waiting for the good fish to come and start the reproductive cycle. The Galápagos hawk is typically spotted at this place, letting us see their majestic nests while standing on their tall rocks, waiting for their prey. Lava lizards are also different on this island, and this endemic species runs around our feet as we walk the rocky trail in Punta Suarez.
I could write many pages on the details of the fabulous species, plants, animals, insects, and more and the way they live their lives and inter-relate at this spot. For now I am just going to conclude that this is the best place for a farewell to our magical week in the Galápagos Islands.
Today is our last full day in paradise. It has been a very exciting week to start our New Year. Early risers had a kayak session along the fabulous shoreline of Gardner Bay on Española Island. Sea lions, sea turtles and a magnificent rocky shore came along with them.
Once we all had breakfast, we loaded our zodiacs with those keen on snorkeling and headed towards Gardner Islet off Gardner Bay to enjoy the last super snorkeling of the trip. Schools of colorful tropical fish, sea stars, playful sea lions and more were the delight of our swimmers.
Those who like the beach enjoyed the best of times with a large number of sea lions basking on the white coralline sand. Newly born pups nursed, young sea lion males played, and female sea lions, especially the young ones, curiously approached us.
The jewel of the crown was waiting for us at our afternoon outing. The rockiest trail of the week hid the best-kept secrets of the enchanted islands. We spotted the cutest waved albatross fledglings getting ready to fly away to the open seas. This may be the last week we will see them until next year, when adults will come back to nest at the end of April. Large numbers of nesting Nazca boobies showed a white ring along the edges of the cliffs along the visiting trail in Punta Suarez on Española Island.
Blue-footed boobies have chosen little corners here and there to gather together waiting for the good fish to come and start the reproductive cycle. The Galápagos hawk is typically spotted at this place, letting us see their majestic nests while standing on their tall rocks, waiting for their prey. Lava lizards are also different on this island, and this endemic species runs around our feet as we walk the rocky trail in Punta Suarez.
I could write many pages on the details of the fabulous species, plants, animals, insects, and more and the way they live their lives and inter-relate at this spot. For now I am just going to conclude that this is the best place for a farewell to our magical week in the Galápagos Islands.
