Before breakfast, we landed on Floreana island. The island is home to mysterious events that highlight the human history of the Galapagos. We headed onto the beach for a short hike through a greenish-brown sandy beach with some olivine crystals that are considered semi-precious stones. We also saw a brackish water lagoon with Greater Flamingoes, noble inhabitants of this paradise usually in the company of pintail ducks and black-necked stilts.
The trail ended at a white coralline sandy beach where green sea turtles nest throughout the year and where diamond rays are concentrated by the hundreds along the shore under the breaking waves, while sally lightfoot crabs give a touch of color to the dark lava.
After breakfast, we had a Zodiac ride around “Champion” island, which is small satellite island off the coast of Floreana. We were here in search of the almost extinct Floreana mockingbird. Luckily, we found a few of these endemic birds in the lower areas, pecking on the prickly pear cacti in search of water. Some other shore and sea birds were spotted on the plankton rich waters.
After a great Zodiac ride, we entered the blue heart of the planet and got ourselves underwater for another exciting activity, snorkeling at one of the best destinations for it. Large schools of fish are found, to mention just a few, parrot fishes, king angel fishes, invertebrates, echinoderms, even sharks sometimes show up, but what we enjoyed the most was swimming with sea lion pups who curiously came so close to us, blowing bubbles and inviting us to play with them.
After lunch we visited another destination. At this site, a wooden barrel was set up around the 1790s and has been used as communication with home by pirates and others as they were away for some years. We visitors liked the idea of delivering mail this way and followed the tradition, so what we do is write postcards, take them there, put then in the barrel, and other fellow travelers going there will pick up and hand deliver it. After this visit we went on a Zodiac ride around a small Island where lots of sea lions and birds and turtles hang out. Some others kayaked for some exercise and watched wildlife like eagle rays, pacific green sea turtles, Brown Pelicans and many herons in search of food within the tide pools.
