Española Island
Hood or Española island is situated in the Southeast area of the Archipelago. Where the Humboldt Current reaches the islands, these very rich cold waters bring a lot of food supply to all the species. Today it was our only chance to see the Waved Albatrosses, as well to meet the endemic species to the island: the mockingbird, the lava lizards and the marine iguanas.
Travelers interested in photography left the ship at 6:30am. Those more interested in natural history left a little later. We had a two-mile walk on boulders under the Ecuadorian sun. Although it may sound like a lot of effort, I can tell you it was all worth it! We found the last albatrosses getting ready to leave Española. In January it will be too hot for them to stay here, so the few babies that were still here were getting ready for their first jump off the cliff.
The trail is a nesting site for different sea birds. We met the Nazca boobies for the first time, and we also found some swallowtail gulls, blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. Land life was outstanding as well. We were lucky to find the major predator of the islands: the Galápagos Hawk.
The afternoon was a relaxing time for water and beach activities. We visited Gardner Bay, a white coralline beach full of sea lions and mockingbirds. Every person on board had the opportunity to find his/her favorite sea lion and observed it for hours. The baby sea lions were the stars! Playing around, laying on our towels and making funny sounds, they captured our smiles.
As one of the oldest islands in the archipelago, Española had time to allow species to adapt to its conditions. Every island is a different world. As we navigate to our next destination, I think about the sinking volcano that we left behind us and all its natural richness. Española is a treasure hiding in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Hood or Española island is situated in the Southeast area of the Archipelago. Where the Humboldt Current reaches the islands, these very rich cold waters bring a lot of food supply to all the species. Today it was our only chance to see the Waved Albatrosses, as well to meet the endemic species to the island: the mockingbird, the lava lizards and the marine iguanas.
Travelers interested in photography left the ship at 6:30am. Those more interested in natural history left a little later. We had a two-mile walk on boulders under the Ecuadorian sun. Although it may sound like a lot of effort, I can tell you it was all worth it! We found the last albatrosses getting ready to leave Española. In January it will be too hot for them to stay here, so the few babies that were still here were getting ready for their first jump off the cliff.
The trail is a nesting site for different sea birds. We met the Nazca boobies for the first time, and we also found some swallowtail gulls, blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. Land life was outstanding as well. We were lucky to find the major predator of the islands: the Galápagos Hawk.
The afternoon was a relaxing time for water and beach activities. We visited Gardner Bay, a white coralline beach full of sea lions and mockingbirds. Every person on board had the opportunity to find his/her favorite sea lion and observed it for hours. The baby sea lions were the stars! Playing around, laying on our towels and making funny sounds, they captured our smiles.
As one of the oldest islands in the archipelago, Española had time to allow species to adapt to its conditions. Every island is a different world. As we navigate to our next destination, I think about the sinking volcano that we left behind us and all its natural richness. Española is a treasure hiding in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
