Española Island
The day began with a slightly overcast sky, however the wildlife on the island of Española was found on its best behavior. It was not too far from the landing site where we saw the first of many sea lions on the island. Lying comfortably across the path, a female sea lion greeted us to the land of dragons and mystery of mysteries, as Charles Darwin described it once back in 1835.
As we started our walk, more and more species came into sight. There was no doubt now that the promise of an extraordinary walk was being delivered. Marine iguanas and their closest cousins on the island, the lava lizard, were found in amazing numbers. Some of the marine iguanas even lay in the middle of the path, almost as if they were waiting for our arrival. Then they started their march to the ocean in great numbers, seemingly to show us why they are considered so special. Descended from completely terrestrial land reptiles, this specie has adapted to the marine environment for foraging. It is impressive how by swimming and sometimes surfing the waves, these ancient looking reptiles work their way out into the open sea to obtain their daily food supply, an algae known as “sea lettuce” (Ulva spp.).
The landscape of Espanola is also beautiful and full of dramatic scenery. Bathed with the splash of big and powerful waves, the southeastern-most side of the island has been continuously eroded, forming long, sharp cliffs along its coastline. Lots of species of birds have made their home along these cliffs. Among the most impressive ones are the waved albatross, which year after year comes to this specific island for courting and breeding, and is considered a “must-see” specie for our trip around the Galápagos islands.
The afternoon was just as good as the morning. The snorkeling and the glass bottom boat cruises fulfilled the desires of all who wanted to see the fish from under and above the water. Colorful fish as well as rays, a shark and a sea turtle were among the highlights of the guests. After such a nice and refreshing experience, a long and good-looking beach awaited us with as many sea lions as you can possibly imagine. As we arrived to the beach, the big surprise of the afternoon was a female sea lion giving birth to a healthy, beautiful pup right in the open. We decided to go and congratulate the new mother and thanked her for such an amazing experience. It was a magical ending to a day that could not have been expected to end in any other way; after all, we are in the enchanted islands, the Galápagos.
The day began with a slightly overcast sky, however the wildlife on the island of Española was found on its best behavior. It was not too far from the landing site where we saw the first of many sea lions on the island. Lying comfortably across the path, a female sea lion greeted us to the land of dragons and mystery of mysteries, as Charles Darwin described it once back in 1835.
As we started our walk, more and more species came into sight. There was no doubt now that the promise of an extraordinary walk was being delivered. Marine iguanas and their closest cousins on the island, the lava lizard, were found in amazing numbers. Some of the marine iguanas even lay in the middle of the path, almost as if they were waiting for our arrival. Then they started their march to the ocean in great numbers, seemingly to show us why they are considered so special. Descended from completely terrestrial land reptiles, this specie has adapted to the marine environment for foraging. It is impressive how by swimming and sometimes surfing the waves, these ancient looking reptiles work their way out into the open sea to obtain their daily food supply, an algae known as “sea lettuce” (Ulva spp.).
The landscape of Espanola is also beautiful and full of dramatic scenery. Bathed with the splash of big and powerful waves, the southeastern-most side of the island has been continuously eroded, forming long, sharp cliffs along its coastline. Lots of species of birds have made their home along these cliffs. Among the most impressive ones are the waved albatross, which year after year comes to this specific island for courting and breeding, and is considered a “must-see” specie for our trip around the Galápagos islands.
The afternoon was just as good as the morning. The snorkeling and the glass bottom boat cruises fulfilled the desires of all who wanted to see the fish from under and above the water. Colorful fish as well as rays, a shark and a sea turtle were among the highlights of the guests. After such a nice and refreshing experience, a long and good-looking beach awaited us with as many sea lions as you can possibly imagine. As we arrived to the beach, the big surprise of the afternoon was a female sea lion giving birth to a healthy, beautiful pup right in the open. We decided to go and congratulate the new mother and thanked her for such an amazing experience. It was a magical ending to a day that could not have been expected to end in any other way; after all, we are in the enchanted islands, the Galápagos.
