Floreana Island
An early rise today got us off the Islander by 6:30 and on to Floreana Island. After a wet landing, we walked up the short sand path to the legendary Post Office Barrel. Since the early whaling days, sailors have been leaving messages at this spot to be hand delivered to those heading home. Most of us left postcards and notes bound for home in hopes that the tradition will continue and passing travelers will deliver our notes safely and personally. We went through the letters and some started their long trek to their intended recipients.
Getting back into the pangas, we had a short cruise to see the playful sea lion colony, La Loberia, whose member would soon become lifelong friends.
After breakfast, we donned our snorkel gear and got ready for what would prove for many to be the best snorkel experience so far off Champion Island. We were greeted almost immediately by the youngsters of the local sea lion colony who spent the next hour diving, dodging and generally showing off for us. Our snorkeling skills were put to shame as they swam circles around us. Returning to the Zodiacs, we circumnavigated the island and were lucky enough to find the very rare Charles (Floreana) mockingbird.
After lunch, the experienced “Rambo” snorkelers headed to Devil’s Crown, where they floated with the current past the rocky islands, finding white-tipped sharks, puffer fish, Mexican hogfish among the schools we passed. Others took the sea kayaks back to La Loberia for a better look at the sea lions.
Returning from our kayaks and snorkeling, we disembarked at Punta Cormorant as the cindery trail led to over 30 Galapagos flamingos standing in a brackish lagoon. We headed farther along the trail to a powder fine white sand beach where a school of golden rays waved fins at us as the frigates rode thermals overhead.
During recap on the Islander, the theme night brought out two Darwins, Campbells Condensed Primordial Soup, crabs, pirates, frigates, the Dolores-bird and the award winning tortoise costume of Louise Walker. We closed the night with a barbeque on the top deck and a guided tour of the stars with Naturalist Vanessa. Some say this was the best day yet!
An early rise today got us off the Islander by 6:30 and on to Floreana Island. After a wet landing, we walked up the short sand path to the legendary Post Office Barrel. Since the early whaling days, sailors have been leaving messages at this spot to be hand delivered to those heading home. Most of us left postcards and notes bound for home in hopes that the tradition will continue and passing travelers will deliver our notes safely and personally. We went through the letters and some started their long trek to their intended recipients.
Getting back into the pangas, we had a short cruise to see the playful sea lion colony, La Loberia, whose member would soon become lifelong friends.
After breakfast, we donned our snorkel gear and got ready for what would prove for many to be the best snorkel experience so far off Champion Island. We were greeted almost immediately by the youngsters of the local sea lion colony who spent the next hour diving, dodging and generally showing off for us. Our snorkeling skills were put to shame as they swam circles around us. Returning to the Zodiacs, we circumnavigated the island and were lucky enough to find the very rare Charles (Floreana) mockingbird.
After lunch, the experienced “Rambo” snorkelers headed to Devil’s Crown, where they floated with the current past the rocky islands, finding white-tipped sharks, puffer fish, Mexican hogfish among the schools we passed. Others took the sea kayaks back to La Loberia for a better look at the sea lions.
Returning from our kayaks and snorkeling, we disembarked at Punta Cormorant as the cindery trail led to over 30 Galapagos flamingos standing in a brackish lagoon. We headed farther along the trail to a powder fine white sand beach where a school of golden rays waved fins at us as the frigates rode thermals overhead.
During recap on the Islander, the theme night brought out two Darwins, Campbells Condensed Primordial Soup, crabs, pirates, frigates, the Dolores-bird and the award winning tortoise costume of Louise Walker. We closed the night with a barbeque on the top deck and a guided tour of the stars with Naturalist Vanessa. Some say this was the best day yet!
