Española
About the Island
Española
Espanola is the oldest and the southernmost island in the chain. The trip across open waters can be quite rough especially during August and September.
Espanola’s remote location helped make it a unique jewel with a large number of endemic creatures. Secluded from the other islands, wildlife on Espanola adapted to the island’s environment and natural resources. The subspecies of Marine iguana from Espanola are the only ones that change color during breeding season. The Hood Mockingbird is also endemic to the island.
island sites
Punta Suarez
Found on the western tip of Espanola, Punta Suarez offers great wildlife such as sea lions, sea birds and the largest marine iguanas of Galapagos. The trail is about 1670 meters, it’s one of the most popular and attractive visits to the islands. Continuing down the trail you come to the only place where waved albatross nest in the islands. Some 12,000 pairs nest on Espanola each year. The feeling is very dramatic and it seems like a desolate wilderness as the waves crash on the jagged cliffs below and the blowhole shoots water 50-70 feet/15-30 meters into the air. The sky above is full of sea birds including red-billed tropicbirds, American Oystercatchers, swallow-tailed gulls, and Audubon’s Shearwaters.
Gardner Bay
Is located on the northeastern portion of the island offers a magnificent long, white sandy beach, where colonies of sea lions laze in the sun, sea turtles swim offshore, and inquisitive mockingbirds boldly investigate. The beach considered an open area where you are free to explore. Snorkeling at Gardner Bay is fantastic also.