Floreana Island
Our journey this day began visiting famous Post Office Bay on Floreana Island on a pre-breakfast outing. This bay used to be one of the most visited places by anyone who looked for giant tortoises, water, and the possibility of sending mail for Europe or North America to be hand delivered by home ward bound vessels. For a time, this system was the only communication between those who were navigating or living in Galápagos and the rest of the world. Today we became part of this tradition as we looked in to the barrel and took the bag of letters and post cards. We sorted through the letters took those that were addressed to the places close to our homes. These we promised to hand delive, and of course we also left some mail in the barrel hopping it will be delivered to us and our friends in the same fashion.
Leaving Post Office Bay we sailed towards Champion Islet where we snorkeled with large schools of fish of different kinds and colors. Massive schools of king angel fish, black striped salemas, and creole fish were some among the many species of fish seen today. But the main attraction was swimming with Galápagos sea lions! There were close to twenty juveniles swimming and playing with us. They became our “snorkeling buddies” and followed us along the base of the cliffs of Champion. It was hard to tell who was having more fun – the humans or the pinnipeds! The colors of the black coral which is bright green and looks like an underwater bush when alive, and the reds, blues oranges and yellows of the sea stars made a contrast with the color of the black lava they grow and rest upon.
The afternoon was just as great as the morning; we went back to Floreana Island and visited Punta Cormorant. Some went exploring via kayak along the spectacular volcanic coastline. Pacific green sea turtles were observed, as well as some sea lions resting and sunbathing on the rocks. We disembarked at 4:00 p.m. on a greenish olivine beach and walked to a brackish water lagoon where greater flamingoes were busy feeding on brine shrimp. We approached the waters edge and found tiny fiddler crabs, and watched copepods swimming and searching for food on the bottom of the lagoon.
We followed the cindery trail over a rise and descended to a white sand beach bathed by bright turquoise waters, and surrounded by black lava. From the beach we could see many female sea turtles that looked as if they were waiting for night to fall so they could come ashore and lay their eggs. Interestingly however, it is not yet their breeding season, so we were surprised to see so many turtles off the beach. We also spotted dozens of diamond sting rays in the surf, and a couple of small juvenile black tipped sharks looking for food close to the shore. What an amazing place! We never see the same things twice and today was not an exception. We all returned to the ship, having learned lots and glowing with happiness.
Our journey this day began visiting famous Post Office Bay on Floreana Island on a pre-breakfast outing. This bay used to be one of the most visited places by anyone who looked for giant tortoises, water, and the possibility of sending mail for Europe or North America to be hand delivered by home ward bound vessels. For a time, this system was the only communication between those who were navigating or living in Galápagos and the rest of the world. Today we became part of this tradition as we looked in to the barrel and took the bag of letters and post cards. We sorted through the letters took those that were addressed to the places close to our homes. These we promised to hand delive, and of course we also left some mail in the barrel hopping it will be delivered to us and our friends in the same fashion.
Leaving Post Office Bay we sailed towards Champion Islet where we snorkeled with large schools of fish of different kinds and colors. Massive schools of king angel fish, black striped salemas, and creole fish were some among the many species of fish seen today. But the main attraction was swimming with Galápagos sea lions! There were close to twenty juveniles swimming and playing with us. They became our “snorkeling buddies” and followed us along the base of the cliffs of Champion. It was hard to tell who was having more fun – the humans or the pinnipeds! The colors of the black coral which is bright green and looks like an underwater bush when alive, and the reds, blues oranges and yellows of the sea stars made a contrast with the color of the black lava they grow and rest upon.
The afternoon was just as great as the morning; we went back to Floreana Island and visited Punta Cormorant. Some went exploring via kayak along the spectacular volcanic coastline. Pacific green sea turtles were observed, as well as some sea lions resting and sunbathing on the rocks. We disembarked at 4:00 p.m. on a greenish olivine beach and walked to a brackish water lagoon where greater flamingoes were busy feeding on brine shrimp. We approached the waters edge and found tiny fiddler crabs, and watched copepods swimming and searching for food on the bottom of the lagoon.
We followed the cindery trail over a rise and descended to a white sand beach bathed by bright turquoise waters, and surrounded by black lava. From the beach we could see many female sea turtles that looked as if they were waiting for night to fall so they could come ashore and lay their eggs. Interestingly however, it is not yet their breeding season, so we were surprised to see so many turtles off the beach. We also spotted dozens of diamond sting rays in the surf, and a couple of small juvenile black tipped sharks looking for food close to the shore. What an amazing place! We never see the same things twice and today was not an exception. We all returned to the ship, having learned lots and glowing with happiness.
