Floreana Island
We had an early morning panga cruise to Floreana Island. This is a peaceful island dotted with extinct volcanic cones. Its human history dates back two centuries from marooned whalers to pioneers, and from a toothless dentist to a self-proclaimed empress. Weird!
Upon landing on a beach, we walked to the post office barrel, an old mail swap tradition going back to whaling days. People leave post cards, and others come, take the ones addressed to areas near their own homes, and deliver them when they return.
During breakfast on the ship, we sailed to Champion islet. There we had snorkeling activities; we were swimming among different kinds of tropical fish, sea lions, sea turtles and white-tipped sharks. The water was clear and we could enjoy how a sea lion performed for us, rolling, diving and even swimming on its side, waving with its flipper. It was amazing!
Also we did a Zodiac ride around Champion looking for the Floreana mockingbird and other sea birds.
In the afternoon, back in our pangas we were headed for Punta Cormorant. After a wet landing on one of the inorganic beaches, we could watch the Greater flamingoes in a large salty lagoon. The main attraction was a juvenile flamingo walking along the beach as part of the welcome committee, in the middle of a sea lion colony. It was very peaceful and astonishing. Continuing over a hill we ended up on a beautiful white beach that is a sea turtle nesting area. Then we went back to the ship for a wonderful sunset cocktail. It was a great day!
We had an early morning panga cruise to Floreana Island. This is a peaceful island dotted with extinct volcanic cones. Its human history dates back two centuries from marooned whalers to pioneers, and from a toothless dentist to a self-proclaimed empress. Weird!
Upon landing on a beach, we walked to the post office barrel, an old mail swap tradition going back to whaling days. People leave post cards, and others come, take the ones addressed to areas near their own homes, and deliver them when they return.
During breakfast on the ship, we sailed to Champion islet. There we had snorkeling activities; we were swimming among different kinds of tropical fish, sea lions, sea turtles and white-tipped sharks. The water was clear and we could enjoy how a sea lion performed for us, rolling, diving and even swimming on its side, waving with its flipper. It was amazing!
Also we did a Zodiac ride around Champion looking for the Floreana mockingbird and other sea birds.
In the afternoon, back in our pangas we were headed for Punta Cormorant. After a wet landing on one of the inorganic beaches, we could watch the Greater flamingoes in a large salty lagoon. The main attraction was a juvenile flamingo walking along the beach as part of the welcome committee, in the middle of a sea lion colony. It was very peaceful and astonishing. Continuing over a hill we ended up on a beautiful white beach that is a sea turtle nesting area. Then we went back to the ship for a wonderful sunset cocktail. It was a great day!
