Known in English as Hood Island, Española Island (Isla Española) is the southernmost part of the Galapagos and is the oldest of the islands. 

Gardner Bay Highlights:
Gardner Bay, on the northeastern side of the island has a beautiful long white sandy beach perfect for relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the area. There is also a sea lion colony here. Its rocky shores make this site a great place for diving and snorkeling. If you happen to visit here between October and December, you will find Green Sea Turtles mating just off shore. Gardner Bay is home to some of the most inquisitive mockingbirds in the Galapagos.

In the water, schools of large colorful tropical fish including yellow tailed surgeon fish, king angelfish and bump-head parrot fish swim along with an occasional manta ray gliding by and white-tipped sharks napping on the bottom.

Excursion options include beach walking, swimming, or a deep water snorkel for experienced snorkelers. The landing at Gardner Bay is wet.

Punta Suarez Highlights:
The terrain across the Suarez Point (Punta Suarez) is highly diverse. The hike will begin on the jetty, where the immediate terrain is low, flat savannah, slightly sloping up from the shore, with low grasses and plants and sandy beaches dotted with smooth rocks. You will be amazed at the colorful sally lightfoot crabs and sunning marine iguanas covering the rocks. The trail slowly is rockier toward the ocean side of the island, where enormous waves crash huge cliffs.

Continuing down the rocky trail you come to the only place where waved albatross nest in the islands. Some 12,000 pairs nest on Española Island each year. Between late March to the following January, they come here to mate and raise their young.

At this site, visitors can also expect to see sea lions, Galapagos hawks, marine iguanas, and both blue- footed and Nazca boobies. Farther around the island is its famous blowhole. The basalt rock at the sea edge has cracked, creating a fissure that, at high tide, fills with pressurized seawater. The resulting geyser can reach 70 feet in the air. Photo opportunities here are outstanding.

 

TIPS

1. Be cautious not to walk off the trail and disturb the sea turtle or albatross nests. 2. Good walking shoes or lightweight hiking shoes are recommended to provide stability while walking on the rocky trails. The trail on Punta Suarez is one of the most difficult on the islands. 3. The sun is very strong at the Equator. Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and water are essential items to bring. 4. Make sure you bring you camera and extra memory card as there are many outstanding photo opportunities on this island.