Floreana Island
An island beyond imagination! The sorrow of a stunning bygone day, and the expectation to see more!
Floreana is one of the major Islands in the Galápagos, with dramatic landscapes and wild life, but that’s not all: the human history of this place deserves attention as well.
Long ago in the whaling centuries the island was known as Charles, and it was a port of call for the early voyagers, that found water, giant tortoises and a mailing system. These three conditions made Floreana an important destination in their long trips.
Eventually in the 1830s Ecuador annexed the Galápagos and Floreana became the capital of the archipelago.
Our early expedition started paying a visit to the legendary post office barrel located on the north side of the island. Whaling ships were the main visitors and this was the only way to send letters to their families back in England, and we still keep the tradition of the former visitors leaving post cards hoping some day we’ll get them at home.
Later on we had a meeting with the undersea realm this time on a small satellite island named champion that happens to be an extraordinary snorkeling site.
Large schools of tropical fish of dazzling colors such as king angel fish, Moorish idols, streamer hog fish, and parrot fish to mention a few.
The nutrient rich upwelling waters create particular conditions, low temperatures and currents: therefore this is a place teeming with life including sea lions.
The highlight of the day was snorkeling with sea lions; it seems that these young marine mammals adore swimming with people as much as we do with them.They are everywhere and all around you, nibbling your fins, swimming fast as if they were going to hit you, and releasing jets of bubbles on your face!
In the afternoon we did kayaking, we also had time to explore the beach at Punta Cormorant, and eventually we had a relaxed walk watching the peaceful life of the greater flamingo.
These pink birds give life and significance to the drab colored lagoon and landscapes on this dry island.
It’s been an experience of a lifetime; I can’t wait to see more!
An island beyond imagination! The sorrow of a stunning bygone day, and the expectation to see more!
Floreana is one of the major Islands in the Galápagos, with dramatic landscapes and wild life, but that’s not all: the human history of this place deserves attention as well.
Long ago in the whaling centuries the island was known as Charles, and it was a port of call for the early voyagers, that found water, giant tortoises and a mailing system. These three conditions made Floreana an important destination in their long trips.
Eventually in the 1830s Ecuador annexed the Galápagos and Floreana became the capital of the archipelago.
Our early expedition started paying a visit to the legendary post office barrel located on the north side of the island. Whaling ships were the main visitors and this was the only way to send letters to their families back in England, and we still keep the tradition of the former visitors leaving post cards hoping some day we’ll get them at home.
Later on we had a meeting with the undersea realm this time on a small satellite island named champion that happens to be an extraordinary snorkeling site.
Large schools of tropical fish of dazzling colors such as king angel fish, Moorish idols, streamer hog fish, and parrot fish to mention a few.
The nutrient rich upwelling waters create particular conditions, low temperatures and currents: therefore this is a place teeming with life including sea lions.
The highlight of the day was snorkeling with sea lions; it seems that these young marine mammals adore swimming with people as much as we do with them.They are everywhere and all around you, nibbling your fins, swimming fast as if they were going to hit you, and releasing jets of bubbles on your face!
In the afternoon we did kayaking, we also had time to explore the beach at Punta Cormorant, and eventually we had a relaxed walk watching the peaceful life of the greater flamingo.
These pink birds give life and significance to the drab colored lagoon and landscapes on this dry island.
It’s been an experience of a lifetime; I can’t wait to see more!
