Floreana Island
Today we arrived to the first island in Galápagos that was colonized by humans; therefore its human history is very extensive. Several attempts to establish settlements were made, some with little or no success at all. The records of these different attempts have been well documented by historians along the years.During the time when piracy was a common activity around these waters, this island was used by outcasts as a hideaway from authorities, and even to restock fresh water and fresh meat (land tortoises).
When Ecuador claimed the archipelago in 1832, a group of people from mainland Ecuador were sent immediately to live here; later on, some political prisoners were sent to work in agriculture. Since then, several famous visitors came to Galapagos such as Charles Darwin. The island of Floreana was also the scenario for one of the darkest, most mysterious disappearances of all times. Somewhere between the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, a group of Germans arrived to Floreana. A few months after their arrival, the most intriguing of the characters, Baroness “Eloise Von Wagner d’ Bousquet” and one of her lovers (she apparently had three!) vanished from Floreana, leaving behind their project of building a five star casino-hotel for multimillionaires.
More people eventually arrived, and in no time a small village known as Puerto Velasco Ibarra was created. It was named after an infamous former president from Ecuador who was in office for five terms!
Today, we all had the chance to experience all kinds of different activities that were offered during the day. We had wonderful snorkeling with Galápagos sea lions, an amazing walk to visit the nesting grounds of sea turtles, the gorgeous colony of flamingos, and the colourful sunset toward the end of the day.
Today we arrived to the first island in Galápagos that was colonized by humans; therefore its human history is very extensive. Several attempts to establish settlements were made, some with little or no success at all. The records of these different attempts have been well documented by historians along the years.During the time when piracy was a common activity around these waters, this island was used by outcasts as a hideaway from authorities, and even to restock fresh water and fresh meat (land tortoises).
When Ecuador claimed the archipelago in 1832, a group of people from mainland Ecuador were sent immediately to live here; later on, some political prisoners were sent to work in agriculture. Since then, several famous visitors came to Galapagos such as Charles Darwin. The island of Floreana was also the scenario for one of the darkest, most mysterious disappearances of all times. Somewhere between the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, a group of Germans arrived to Floreana. A few months after their arrival, the most intriguing of the characters, Baroness “Eloise Von Wagner d’ Bousquet” and one of her lovers (she apparently had three!) vanished from Floreana, leaving behind their project of building a five star casino-hotel for multimillionaires.
More people eventually arrived, and in no time a small village known as Puerto Velasco Ibarra was created. It was named after an infamous former president from Ecuador who was in office for five terms!
Today, we all had the chance to experience all kinds of different activities that were offered during the day. We had wonderful snorkeling with Galápagos sea lions, an amazing walk to visit the nesting grounds of sea turtles, the gorgeous colony of flamingos, and the colourful sunset toward the end of the day.
