Floreana and Isabela Islands
Early this morning, the show opened with a beautiful sunrise. The sea lions pups appeared to be selling us tickets for a show as we enjoyed the contrasting landscape during a pre-breakfast Zodiac ride at “La Loberia” on Floreana Island: massive prickly pear cactus trees seemingly growing out of pure lava, side by side with mangroves.
The young pups were definitely seeking our attention, as they were leaping and “porpoising” clear out of the water all around us, performing to the right and left of their ecstatic admirers. All this to the operatic background of a bull sea lion barking to proclaim his territory. Our excitement at all this was increased manifold by the appearance of the master of ceremonies: an adorable Galápagos penguin in his tuxedo. As we couldn’t find an Internet Café, we knew for sure that the Post Office Barrel would be open, so we landed in the bay that houses the famous landmark. This hand-delivery mailing station has been used non stop since 1793… 24 hours a day and 365 days a year! It is also the cheapest mailing station in South America as no stamps are needed to send postcards or letters.
Later on that morning, after having repositioned to Champion Islet, our pinniped hosts continue their underwater Broadway show as we were snorkeling among them. They were joined by the star of the event, an enormous manta ray, as well as by white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles and millions of fish in a true marine festival. Yet another Primadonna of the seas made an appearance as we sailed on to Isabela: a member of the ocean’s giants, the cetaceans: a Sei whale demonstrating how fins need to be displayed.
The show must go on. The second part was a combination: wildlife with civilization. The afternoon performance was in the beautiful village of Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. The adventurous ones among us hiked to the Sierra Negra crater in order to enjoy the dramatic scenery and the signs from the last eruption that began October 22, 2005. The rest of us visited the National Park Service Rearing Center. Here, the actors were giant Galápagos tortoises: eggs, hatchlings, young ones, teenagers and full grown animals from different populations of the southern Isabela volcanoes. We continued our adventure exploring the wetlands of Isabela by using a boardwalk surrounded by button mangroves lining salt-water lagoons where flamingos were feeding peacefully, alongside white-cheek pintail ducks, finches and black-necked stilts.
Finally, after having worked and played so hard today, we relaxed with drinks and a swim off a white sandy beach in front of a picturesque local hotel. The curtain today dropped with a spectacular sunset.
Does nature’s show ever stop?
Early this morning, the show opened with a beautiful sunrise. The sea lions pups appeared to be selling us tickets for a show as we enjoyed the contrasting landscape during a pre-breakfast Zodiac ride at “La Loberia” on Floreana Island: massive prickly pear cactus trees seemingly growing out of pure lava, side by side with mangroves.
The young pups were definitely seeking our attention, as they were leaping and “porpoising” clear out of the water all around us, performing to the right and left of their ecstatic admirers. All this to the operatic background of a bull sea lion barking to proclaim his territory. Our excitement at all this was increased manifold by the appearance of the master of ceremonies: an adorable Galápagos penguin in his tuxedo. As we couldn’t find an Internet Café, we knew for sure that the Post Office Barrel would be open, so we landed in the bay that houses the famous landmark. This hand-delivery mailing station has been used non stop since 1793… 24 hours a day and 365 days a year! It is also the cheapest mailing station in South America as no stamps are needed to send postcards or letters.
Later on that morning, after having repositioned to Champion Islet, our pinniped hosts continue their underwater Broadway show as we were snorkeling among them. They were joined by the star of the event, an enormous manta ray, as well as by white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles and millions of fish in a true marine festival. Yet another Primadonna of the seas made an appearance as we sailed on to Isabela: a member of the ocean’s giants, the cetaceans: a Sei whale demonstrating how fins need to be displayed.
The show must go on. The second part was a combination: wildlife with civilization. The afternoon performance was in the beautiful village of Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. The adventurous ones among us hiked to the Sierra Negra crater in order to enjoy the dramatic scenery and the signs from the last eruption that began October 22, 2005. The rest of us visited the National Park Service Rearing Center. Here, the actors were giant Galápagos tortoises: eggs, hatchlings, young ones, teenagers and full grown animals from different populations of the southern Isabela volcanoes. We continued our adventure exploring the wetlands of Isabela by using a boardwalk surrounded by button mangroves lining salt-water lagoons where flamingos were feeding peacefully, alongside white-cheek pintail ducks, finches and black-necked stilts.
Finally, after having worked and played so hard today, we relaxed with drinks and a swim off a white sandy beach in front of a picturesque local hotel. The curtain today dropped with a spectacular sunset.
Does nature’s show ever stop?
