Our day started with a panga ride around Puerto Espumilla and Buccaneer Cove. We saw pelicans, fur sea lions, and blue footed boobies that were fishing in the water. They shape their bodies and wings into torpedoes and dive in the water to catch fish. The favourite meal is sardines, which also goes to producing the blue pigmentation in the feet and legs. We also see a few turtles. The water looks fantastic, but due to a change in plan we will not snorkel here but off the beach at our next destination.
Puerto Egas was once manned and salt was mined from the volcanic hills in the area. There was no source of fresh water though, so as salt was mined and transported out to mainland Ecuador, water was brought back. The mining was stopped due to declaring the islands a national park. On our afternoon walk we completely fry in the sun- it’s really strong here in the equator and walking and night black lava does not assist! We find a fur sea lion playing in a pool of water and some that are relaxing in little rock caves. Right at the end of the walk we see an octopus in a tiny rock pool. Its head is about the size of a large human fist and is a maroon, brown colour- very well camouflaged.
Later that morning we go for a walk through mangroves to try and find some sea turtles who are nesting on the beach, however it was too hot and sunny out- they would not be back until late afternoon. However having said that, the rains came just before our pangas arrived and so we got drenched anyway.
