Early in the morning we visited the most wonderful beach of the Galapagos Islands: Gardner Bay. This stunning beach gave us the opportunity to relax and enjoy the company of the Galapagos sea lion. A big colony of these friendly mammals were basking in the sun on the beach and swimming in the water. Of course, snorkeling with them was great too, as the young sea lions love to play and swim with visitors.
Our afternoon visit to Punta Suarez was incredible, as Espanola has unique biodiversity with species that only live there. After walking beside colonies of Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and blue-footed boobies, we witnessed the majestic waved albatross, which breeds on Espanola Island from April to December. Guests of National Geographic Islander II watched them perform their magical mating dance, and also observed an albatross incubating its egg.
