Floreana Island
This is an island rich in human history, but it is also rich with a great variety of wild life. This is the oldest mailing systems in our country and probably in all of South America. The island is of course far, far older and the contours of the eroded volcanoes silently speak of the advanced age of this island. During our panga ride around La Lobería, the sea lion rookery, we had the company of five penguins that were oblivious to our presence and swam right next to the Zodiac.
At mid morning, the snorkelling at Champion islet was phenomenal! We found at least a dozen white tip reef sharks and large schools of brightly colored fish. Perhaps the most remarkable sighting was of a small penguin that showed off his fishing style and was immortalize by our underwater camera.
Lunch was eagerly anticipated today as we had worked up quite a healthy appetite, and we were not disappointed. Early in the afternoon, some of our guests chose the “Rambo snorkelling” outing around Devil’s Crown. Again the conditions were simply fantastic, and we were able to swim around and inside this collapsed crater.
There was also another kayaking option this afternoon. The kayakers had close looks at sea turtles, penguins and a whole “kindergarten class” of playful sea lion pups. Most of us disembarked to walk the trail at Punta Cormorant. We observed 31 flamingos in the saline lagoon behind the landing beach, as well as some black necked stilts and white cheek pintail ducks. Continuing on to a white sand beach so fine it is called Flour Beach, we found numerous sting rays. The sea turtle nesting season has begun and they are waiting off shore. We enjoyed the precision swimming in formation of a school of golden rays. As the sun set, we returned to the ship for the evening recap, briefing, and a deck barbecue dinner. Tomorrow is our final day in these magical islands.
This is an island rich in human history, but it is also rich with a great variety of wild life. This is the oldest mailing systems in our country and probably in all of South America. The island is of course far, far older and the contours of the eroded volcanoes silently speak of the advanced age of this island. During our panga ride around La Lobería, the sea lion rookery, we had the company of five penguins that were oblivious to our presence and swam right next to the Zodiac.
At mid morning, the snorkelling at Champion islet was phenomenal! We found at least a dozen white tip reef sharks and large schools of brightly colored fish. Perhaps the most remarkable sighting was of a small penguin that showed off his fishing style and was immortalize by our underwater camera.
Lunch was eagerly anticipated today as we had worked up quite a healthy appetite, and we were not disappointed. Early in the afternoon, some of our guests chose the “Rambo snorkelling” outing around Devil’s Crown. Again the conditions were simply fantastic, and we were able to swim around and inside this collapsed crater.
There was also another kayaking option this afternoon. The kayakers had close looks at sea turtles, penguins and a whole “kindergarten class” of playful sea lion pups. Most of us disembarked to walk the trail at Punta Cormorant. We observed 31 flamingos in the saline lagoon behind the landing beach, as well as some black necked stilts and white cheek pintail ducks. Continuing on to a white sand beach so fine it is called Flour Beach, we found numerous sting rays. The sea turtle nesting season has begun and they are waiting off shore. We enjoyed the precision swimming in formation of a school of golden rays. As the sun set, we returned to the ship for the evening recap, briefing, and a deck barbecue dinner. Tomorrow is our final day in these magical islands.
