Espanola Island in Galapagos

This Island has a unique fauna and birdwatching the waved albatrosses among other rare birds is one of the greatest attractions.

There are two visitor sites on the Island of Espanola:

Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay.

PUNTA SUAREZ

Punta Suarez has the highest rate of endemism of all visitor sites in Espanola Island.

Sea lions, hawks, mockingbirds, blue-footed and masked boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, waved albatross, doves, Sally Lightfoot crabs, lava lizards and marine iguanas can all be seen here.

Between April and November, you can witness the unique mating rituals of the waved albatross and blue-footed boobies.

There are hundreds of blue footed boobies nesting all around, so you have to take care not to step on one of their nests.

You can observe red green marine iguanas that are basking in the sun or the buzzards in the top of the trees.

Punta Suarez is considered to be among the best tourist spots in the Galapagos Islands.

GARDNER BAY

You will see dozens of sea lions at this pristine beach. Divided into two sections by an outcropping of lava rock, the long, open shoreline is one of the few places in Galapagos that is completely safe to explore without a guide (although park regulations require your guide to stay nearby).

See Beautiful Galapagos Islands Pictures here

Gardner Bay is an excellent spot for snorkeling, however, you can have a better snorkeling experience off Gardner Islet and Tortuga Rock, the islet in the distance has the shape of a turtle.

Delight yourself with sea turtles, stingrays, colorful parrot-fish and many more marine species.

Gardner Bay is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of Espanola Island. If you visit this Island between October and December, you will find Green Sea Turtles mating just off shore.

The Island of Espanola is a fantastic place for birdwatching, this Island is home to the famed and endemic Waved Albatross, considered to be among the most spectacular birds in the world.

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Worth visiting between the months of March to December, when the Waved Albatross rests and nests here, this Island is just 61 square km in size.

The English name for Espanola Island is Hood Island after Viscount Samuel Hood. It is located in the extreme southeast of the Galapagos Archipelago and is considered, along with Santa Fe Island, one of the oldest Islands in Galapagos.

Espanola's remote location helped make it a unique jewel with a large number of endemic creatures. Separated from the other Islands, wildlife on Espanola Island adapted to its environment and natural resources.

The subspecies of Marine iguana from Espanola are the only ones that change color during breeding season.

The geography of Espanola Island is a classic example of a shield volcano, created from a single caldera in the center of the Island.

Over the years as the Island has moved further away from the hot spot, the volcano became extinct and erosion began to occur.

Galapagos Recommended Reading:

The Diving Guide: Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands, is world renowned for adrenaline-charged diving and unique, fearless wildlife. These "Enchanted Islands" beckon both divers and non-divers from around the globe who come to dive with whale sharks and walk with giant tortoises. (This is the best diving guide I've ever read)

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