Floreana Island

This morning we woke up early for a pre-breakfast hike. The sea was calm, the sky blue. We were the first people to land this morning on Cormorant Point. Around us stood the soft-lined remains of cinder cones; long ago this island was formed by violent eruptions. Floreana is an older island, and the date of the last eruption is not known. This island was also the first to be colonized by humans, which has resulted in damage to its fauna and flora. The Floreana mockingbird, the Floreana tortoise and the Opuntia cactus are three landmark species this island lost the last century. The cactus and mockingbird still survive on some small satellite islands we visited later this day, but the tortoise we know only from ship journals and drawings.

But this morning we were treated to the sight of Flamingoes in a beautiful setting, a hypersaline lake just meters away from the beach where we landed. The Galápagos flamingo is an endemic subspecies. Their population is few, as is the case with most endemic species in this archipelago. After we spent some time taking in the view we continued to another beach, across the isthmus of this tiny peninsula. This beach is very different, consisting mostly of fine powdery carbonated calcium sand. It’s perfect material for the green sea turtle to lay her eggs. We saw many nests, and some fresh tracks; we must have missed the turtles laying eggs this morning by just minutes. It doesn’t matter much, it feels good to be out here this early. Later this morning we got to snorkel with sea lions along the islet Champion, where we also get a glimpse of the Floreana mockingbird.

After lunch we headed out to follow up on a tradition here in Galápagos — the Post Office barrel of Floreana. It is just a wooden barrel where we get to leave our postcards, and pick up those left by earlier travelers. We promise to deliver the ones picked up and hope for the best for the ones we leave. This fun tradition sometimes results in having your card delivered even before you make it home. It is a happy note to end the day on.