Is Sunday early morning the National Geographic Endeavour happens to be anchored in the Bay of Gardner on the island of Espanola. We have an incredible number of activities, including deep water snorkel, walking on the beach with sea lions and the irreverent Espanola mockingbird, kayaking and swimming from the beach. Multiple choices to fill a great morning in a place that is more than words could describe.
The deep water snorkeling is the first outing at Gardner Islet. The water is so clear we encounter a large variety of tropical and reef fish, all the best colors. Beyond these special fish we have sea lions and rays, still so close it seems you can touch them. Meanwhile, the explorers going to the beach are ready and boarding the Zodiacs, they’ll have a wet landing on a beach so fully decorated with sea lions that from a distance they look like rocks on the beach. By eleven o’clock we are calling the kayakers. Some of the kayakers come from the group that was deep water snorkeling, others are coming from the ship, and a smaller group came from enjoying the sandy beach. The kayaking is taking place along the coast of the bay where the birds and the topography are the main attraction. We have had a great morning. It’s common to hear people asking aloud how we’ll be able to top what we’ve already seen. Ii is very simple, Galapagos magic will top that and more.
After all outings in the morning we are back onboard the National Geographic Endeavour; we had lunch and then proceed to the launch for an oceanography lecture. By 3:30 we are ready for the outing at Punta Suarez. Our guests have no idea of the degree of joy the following stop will provide. Suarez is one the places which does not need much to surprise the explorers. After carefully disembarking, we are ready to go on with a great photography conditions.
The endless number of attractions on the path keep our explorers busy with their cameras. Near the areas we walked we see doves, lava lizards, Darwin finches and snakes. All of these creatures seem to be unaware of the presence of the explorers, but even better is when we stop for a picture of them they do not even move and we all enjoy this as a plus of what the nature is willing to give to the visitors. We have arrived to the nesting ground of dancing blue footed boobies and Nazca boobies. We take more pictures before we get to the highlight of our stop in Punta Suarez, the waved albatrosses. Walking along the areas they nest we go surprise by a couple of them dancing and making their presence obvious by the sound, so loud and strong. We feel happy with this amazing excursion. Everyone is more than satisfied with our visit to Espanola.
