Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
channel to Baltra Island. There is good swimming here, as well as a
variety of wildlife that includesmarine iguanas, crabs, and great blue
herons. Pink flamingos are sometimes found in the lagoon. Farther
west is
Caleta Tortuga Negra
, a small cove that provides a breed-
ing ground for green sea turtles and is a habitat for reef sharks, rays
and blue herons.
Española Island
A rocky shoreline and rising swells await your landing at
Punta
Suárez
on Isla Española in the far southeast of the archipelago. One
of the smallest of the “large” islands (23 square miles), Española of-
fers a couple of visitor sights and various special treats. Immediately
upon landing, you can walk among
sea-lion colonies
to get close-up
photos of these adorable creatures. From here a short trail leads
through colonies of
blue-footed
and
masked boobies
. There is no
need to stray off the trail here - you may actually have to be careful
not to step on them along the way! An assortment of dancing couples
in courtship highlights the walk.
Colonies of
marine iguanas
also line the path and are about as im-
mobile as the rocks they rest upon. And don't worry if a tiny black
Galápagos snake
crosses your path - it's not dangerous. A highlight
toward the end of the trail is the colony of
giant waved albatross
.
This is the only nesting place for this species; they arrive fromMarch
throughDecember. At the edge of the sea cliff are spectacular views of
the ocean, the rocky shoreline, and a giant blowhole that sprays water
nearly 100 feet into the air.
On the northeast side of the island is
Gardner Bay
, where a white-
sand beach and plenty of good swimming await. An offshore rock pro-
vides a great snorkeling opportunity.
Española Island offers no modern facilities and is accessible only as
part of a prearranged tour. Reaching Española requires a long over-
seas passage, so the shorter tours with smaller boats are less likely to
visit here.
Isabela Island
Isabela is a monster compared to the other islands. At 1,771 square
miles, it makes up nearly three-fifths of the archipelago's landmass.
Connected by five relatively young volcanoes, two of which are some-
times active, Isabela's sheer size makes it difficult to travel around
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