Española Island lies in the eastern corner of the Galapagos archipelago. All you can see from the distance is a small and flat islet, but once you get closer, then you will find one of the jewels of the Galapagos!
In the morning we visited an amazing white coralline beach, home to dozens of sea lions and a perfect place to practice our snorkeling. The place is paradisiac, with sparkling turquoise waters, gleaming white sand and clear blue skies. Some of us enjoyed of a great deep water snorkeling, the visibility could not have been any better, and the sea lions could not have been more cooperative. Fish of all different colors and a volcanic wall covered with invertebrates made for some excellent sightings.
We had time to do a variety of activities, including snorkeling, kayaking or relaxing on the beach. At midday, it was time to pull anchor and head to our next destination: Punta Suarez.
Punta Suarez is a nesting site for Nazca boobies, as well as the waved albatross. The walk is not easy, but surely every step is worth it! We started on a beach full of colorful marine iguanas, and then we entered the dry zone of vegetation, where a rocky trail led us to a cliff. The winds were blowing and we spotted some clear areas on the land, which are the perfect scenario for nesting albatrosses. And we found them! Some of them were so close that we had to step backwards to be able to focus with our cameras! Some of them were engaging in their courtship rituals, some were nesting already, and some were flying. The whole experience was breathtaking.
As we continued with our walk, we entered the Nazca Bobby territory, and we quickly that we were surrounded by them. We literally walked among them, and finally, almost at the end of the trail, we had a close encounter with a pair of blue-footed boobies! We could not have asked for more on our first full day here!
Española stays behind as we navigate to Floreana. From a distance, it is hard to imagine all of the life that is hidden on that little Island. But now we know! And in our minds, the experiences lived today will stay forever.
