Española Island

Ecuador, Ecuador

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Española Island, also known as Hood Island, is the southernmost of the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, sitting at the far southeast of the archipelago.

It is one of the oldest islands, estimated to be around 3–4 million years old, with a dry, low‑lying, volcanic landscape and very little soil or vegetation. The island is famous for its exceptional wildlife, especially birds, and is the main breeding site in the world for the waved albatross, where huge numbers gather on the cliffs from March to January.

Visitors usually see the island on cruises that stop at two main spots: Punta Suárez, with dramatic cliffs, nesting seabirds, and unique reptiles like the Española lava lizard and red‑marked marine iguanas, and Gardner Bay, with a long white‑sand beach frequented by sea lions and great snorkeling over rocky outcrops.