We visit Gardner Bay for snorkeling from gorgeous white sand beaches populated with sea lions. We immediately recall why we do not like shore scuba diving; getting into and out of the water is too much work. It is much easier to jump off a boat and climb a ladder than fighting waves and soft sand.
In the afternoon, we make a dry landing at Punta Suarez with sea lions, marine iguanas, Nazca boobies, albatross, lava lizzards, mockingbirds, and Darwin's finches. There is a long and hard 2.1km trail over rocks and a shorter 0.3km trail. What does one miss on the short trail? About 10,000 lava rocks!
Walking over and amongst these rocks is not for Carol's foot, and certainly not on the first day of the trip. Advertised as the most difficult of the trip, she passes.
On the way in, the Zodiacs must take care of strong waves breaking over nearby rocks.
In addition to the advertised wildlife, we are treated to a hawk.
CJ trades photo ops with another couple.
Our departure is blocked by several sea lions. An alpha male sea lion arrives and challenges the male in the group. Our naturalist enlists the support of the naturalist from the next group and the two of them work to drive the sea lions from the path. At one point a juvenille sea lion with horrific scarring from a shark attack, goes after our naturalist.
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