We are just beginning our expedition in the Galapagos Islands, and we are already having lots of fun! The islands are magical, and they never cease to amaze visitors who are looking for Mother Nature’s wisdom. We spent the day on Floreana Island, and we enjoyed hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and tours in the glass-bottom boat.
In the early morning, we woke up near Post Office Bay. Some of us went kayaking, and others explored the shore and visited the legendary Post Office Barrel. Since 1293, the barrel has been used by whale hunters, early settlers, and the modern visitors who visit the Galapagos each week. This barrel was the only mechanism of communication for voyagers in the early days, like whale hunters. There was no other way to send messages to families in Europe.
Midmorning, we moved the ship and headed to Champion Islet for more exploration. We disembarked for deep-water snorkeling and tours in the glass-bottom boat. The water was clear, and weather conditions were great. We had lots of fun observing sea lions while we snorkeled, and we spotted various types of tropical fish, including parrotfish and schools of black-striped salemas, which are abundant in the region.
In the afternoon, we visited Punta Cormorant. We went for an exploration walk to look for wildlife. We found blue-footed boobies perched on the rocks with armies of Sally Lightfoot crabs. The landscape surrounding Punta Cormorant is magnificent. Lots of volcanoes dot the island, and they are all covered by an interesting dry forest made up of palo santo trees, the dominant type of vegetation in the Galapagos.
What a beautiful day! I can’t wait to see more.
