Espanola Island, 12/11/2023, National Geographic Islander II
Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Galápagos
Espanola Island has been under restoration for about fifty years now. After a lot of effort by those committed to the restoration, we can observe large colonies of Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, shearwaters, finches, mockingbirds, and hawks. The breeding program for the Espanola giant tortoises is another successful story. In the near future, we will hopefully see tortoises roaming on the island again.
The area is considered the oldest geological formation in the Galapagos. There are amazing, dramatic formations along the cliffs and large colonies of seabirds.
Walter was born in a very small town on the mainland of Ecuador. His first trip to the Galápagos was when he was 12 years old, visiting friends and aunt, who had moved to the islands. From the first moment he saw the Islands, he fell in love with the...
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Our day in the Galapagos began at Punta Pitt, where we made a wet landing on volcanic sand, greeted immediately by a baby sea lion and a white morph red-footed booby at the shore. We started our ascent up the hill, spotting numerous red-footed boobies along the way and even a blue-footed booby! The landscape was breathtaking, with vibrant red hues in the vegetation and layers of orange tuff stone creating a stunning backdrop. In the afternoon, we explored Cerro Brujo on the western side of San Cristobal Island. After landing on semi-volcanic sand, we strolled among large colonies of sea lions, leading us to a stretch of pure, powdery white sand. We joined our wellness specialist for a stretching session, then walked along the beautiful beach, marveling at the unique volcanic landscape around us. Before the sun set, we returned to National Geographic Islander II and our captain took us to Kicker Rock, an iconic eroded ash cone and a nesting site for many seabirds. With the rock glowing in the evening light, our guests raised a final toast to celebrate an unforgettable day in this extraordinary place.
Today we explored one of the oldest and most interesting islands in Galapagos, Española. This island has a high rate of endemic species, among them the largest bird in the archipelago, the waved albatross.
Today our expedition started with a kayaking exploration of Post Office Bay, a unique location that has a rich history dating back to the 18th century. It served as an unofficial mail drop for whalers, who would leave letters for passing ships to deliver. Today, it remains a popular visitor site, symbolizing early communication and connection among seafarers, while also highlighting the unique maritime history of the Galápagos Islands. For the second part of the morning, we embarked on a snorkeling expedition at Champion Islet, which boasts a rich diversity of fish fauna. Snorkelers can encounter colorful species such as parrotfish, surgeonfish, and snapper, along with the endemic Galápagos damselfish. Our day culminated with a trek through the rugged terrain of Punta Cormorant, renowned for its diverse ecosystems and vibrant wildlife. The area features unique vegetation and is a prime habitat for various bird species, notably flamingos and blue-footed boobies.
