Floreana Island
We arrived to Floreana Island in the very early hours of the day. We went ashore before breakfast to leave some postcards and letters in an old wooden barrel. This is not the original barrel placed here around the late 1700’s but it is the same location. For decades it was the only way of communication between Galápagos and the mainland. It began as a tradition amongst whalers to pick up mail, and hand deliver it once they arrived home many months and even years later. Today we found postcards and letters inside the barrel addressed to many places all over the world. One day those messages and the ones we left today will be hand delivered, following the tradition just as in the old times.
After our stop at this historical place, we continued to one of the most incredible places in Galápagos, Champion Islet. We went snorkeling there with very playful and friendly Galápagos sea lions, sea turtles, large schools of fish, and rays. The conditions we had today for snorkeling could not have been better: crystal clear and calm waters, warm temperature, and it was very sunny.
We returned to our beloved National Geographic Polaris, to get ready for a Zodiac ride along the coast of Champion Islet. We were looking for one of the rarest birds in the World, the Floreana mockingbird. After searching all over the coast intensively, we encountered a few of these rare bird species. Even though these birds are so uncommon, the Galápagos sea lions were the ones that stole the show once again. These adorable marine mammals with all their pirouettes and acrobatic maneuvers made us laugh all the time.
The afternoon was dedicated to kayaking, swimming and walking around Punta Cormorant. Ironically there are no cormorants there; the place is named after a famous wreck of a ship named Cormorant. On the way back and we as we left Floreana behind, we watched a gorgeous sunset from our ship. We are now on our way to go to the western realms of the Galápagos.
We arrived to Floreana Island in the very early hours of the day. We went ashore before breakfast to leave some postcards and letters in an old wooden barrel. This is not the original barrel placed here around the late 1700’s but it is the same location. For decades it was the only way of communication between Galápagos and the mainland. It began as a tradition amongst whalers to pick up mail, and hand deliver it once they arrived home many months and even years later. Today we found postcards and letters inside the barrel addressed to many places all over the world. One day those messages and the ones we left today will be hand delivered, following the tradition just as in the old times.
After our stop at this historical place, we continued to one of the most incredible places in Galápagos, Champion Islet. We went snorkeling there with very playful and friendly Galápagos sea lions, sea turtles, large schools of fish, and rays. The conditions we had today for snorkeling could not have been better: crystal clear and calm waters, warm temperature, and it was very sunny.
We returned to our beloved National Geographic Polaris, to get ready for a Zodiac ride along the coast of Champion Islet. We were looking for one of the rarest birds in the World, the Floreana mockingbird. After searching all over the coast intensively, we encountered a few of these rare bird species. Even though these birds are so uncommon, the Galápagos sea lions were the ones that stole the show once again. These adorable marine mammals with all their pirouettes and acrobatic maneuvers made us laugh all the time.
The afternoon was dedicated to kayaking, swimming and walking around Punta Cormorant. Ironically there are no cormorants there; the place is named after a famous wreck of a ship named Cormorant. On the way back and we as we left Floreana behind, we watched a gorgeous sunset from our ship. We are now on our way to go to the western realms of the Galápagos.
