Travels in the Galapagos Islands (Part 5) – Espanola

Espanola is the oldest and the southern- most island in the Galapagos Archi- pelago.  The island’s remote location and seclusion have given rise to a number of unique species found nowhere else on Earth.  Here you will find a subspecies of Marine iguana that change color during breeding season, the brazen Hooded Mockingbird and the only nesting grounds for the Waved Albatross.

On the northern side of Espanola, there are two visitor’s sites. Gardner Bay is a great place for swimming and snorkeling while Punta Suarez offers a variety of wildlife and geology. Among other species, you can find brightly colored red Marine Iguanas, Lava Lizards, Hooded Mockingbirds, Swallow Tailed Gulls, Blue Footed Boobies, Masked Boobies, Galapagos Hawks, Finches, and the Waved Albatross.

We crossed from Floreana to Espanola overnight, and after breakfast, had another wet landing on Punta Suarez.  On this part of the island, jagged rock formations make it a perfect nesting site for many species of seabird.  Along the coastline, groups of peeling red-skinned Marine Iguanas basked in the sun.  We continued passed them to a flat area protected from the wind by the surrounding rock formations.  There we got the change to witness the courtship dance of a pair of Waved Albatross.

One of Espanola’s most interesting geologic features is the Punta Suarez Blowhole.  Our guide explained it a lava tube blocked at one end.  As the waves crash, the force travels through the tube and exits through a small opening in the rock.  The result is a geyser spraying water 30 meters into the air.

In the afternoon, we visited Gardner Bay where I had a Hooded Mockingbird land on my shoulder.  We walked among the sunbathing sea lions and then returned to the boat for another great snorkeling adventure with sea lions darting all around us.