Española Island

Ecuador / Galapagos / San Cristybal /
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Española is the oldest island at around 3.5 million years and the southernmost in the chain.
Secluded from the other islands, wildlife on Española adapted to the island's environment and natural resources. Marine iguana's on Española are the only ones that change color during breeding season.

The Waved Albatross is found on the island. The island's steep cliffs serve as the perfect runways for these large birds which take off for their ocean feeding grounds near the mainland of Ecuador and Peru.

Española has two visitor sites. Gardner Bay is a swimming and snorkeling site as well as offering a great beach. Punta Suarez has migrant, resident, and endemic wildlife including brightly colored Marine Iguanas, Española Lava Lizards, Hood Mockingbirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Blue Footed Boobies and Nazca Boobies, Galápagos Hawks, a selection of Finch, and the Waved Albatross.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Española_Island
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   1°22'41"S   89°40'55"W

Comments

  • This island is considered the purest form of all the islands supporting wildlife due to a past program designed to clear previous feral species allowing both endemic, current and migratory sea birds to evolve without competition. There is also good snorkeling on the Northeastern coast in Gardner Bay. The western tip is home to a group of very colorful iguanas as well as many sea lions and wildlife selection and sea birds that includes both variety's of the boobie, masked and blue-footed. It is also the most southerly part of the island range.