Albatross Airport

More than any other kind of animal, the Galápagos belongs to seabirds. They’re everywhere, and you’ll see them on just about every island. But Espanola is uniquely suited to providing a place to see one of the rarest seabirds on the islands—the waved albatross.

One of the largest birds in the world, the critically endangered waved albatross nests on Espanola Island in the winter months, raising its chicks (there is only one other place in the world where the bird nests, a tiny island off the coast of Peru). Because the albatross’ wings are so large, it cannot take off or land as easily as other sea birds. As such, it can often be found on a makeshift “runway,” gaining ground speed before taking off or even coming in for a crash landing.