Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez, Española Island, 11/24/2024, National Geographic Endeavour II
Aboard the
National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos
The southeastern most island of the Galapagos Archipelago is a highlight for nature lovers. The morning visit to Gardner Bay was busy, with deep water snorkeling in turquoise waters and beach strolling on white, powdery sand peppered with Galapagos sea lions.
We spent the whole afternoon walking the long and rocky trail in Punta Suarez on the west side of the island. Amazing! Really colorful marine iguanas, brightly speckled lava lizards, newly born sea lions, and birds everywhere. The landscape was also beautiful and even the blowhole put on a show for us.
Fernando was born in Guayaquil, mainland Ecuador. His first visit to Galapagos as a tourist when he was a teenager made up his mind regarding what to study at university. He moved to Galapagos a couple of years after completing his training as mari...
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Our early start on Floreana Island was a perfect way to begin the day. As soon as we stepped on the island, magic happened. Some flamingoes started arriving at the local lagoon of Punta Cormorant, doing several runs before landing in the area. It was a truly special experience that permitted us to take amazing photos of this unique moment, seeing them in flight. The “mystic island” kept impressing us with its beaty throughout the day.
Today, we began our activities with a deep-water snorkeling session in Gardner Bay. Our guests were thrilled to interact with playful sea lions and an array of colorful fish, creating unforgettable underwater experiences. Following the snorkeling adventure, we visited the pristine sands of Gardner Beach. Here, we encountered the Española mockingbird walking confidently close to our guests, seemingly unbothered by their presence. Many were captivated by the serene beauty and gentle demeanor of the sea lions resting on shore. After lunch we arrived at Punta Suárez. Disembarking, we ventured inland, exploring an island bursting with life. Among the black volcanic rocks, we admired the vividly colored marine iguanas, whose green and reddish tones contrasted dramatically against the black rocks. Nearby, we observed Española lava lizards, the largest in the archipelago. The highlight of the visit was encountering the Galápagos albatross, the largest seabird in the archipelago. We saw many albatrosses soaring, nesting, and resting. As the sun set, we returned to the ship after an extraordinary day filled with nature’s wonders.
San Cristóbal Island, one of the oldest in the Galápagos archipelago, is known for its stunning landscapes. We woke up next to Punta Pitt in the northern part of the island, where we explored a colony of frigates and blue- and red-footed boobies.
