Floreana Island
Just another day in paradise! The idea of getting up early made us seriously think about it. But once up and on the upper deck with a cup of tea in one hand and binoculars in the other, scanning every movement on a calm sea as tuna fish started their daily frenetic search for food, heralded the beginning of an unforgettable experience.
Our early day began by paying a visit to the legendary Post Office Barrel placed on this island at the end of the seventeen hundreds as a way to keep in touch with relatives on the other side of the world. We left our letters and post cards in this old barrel in order to keep the tradition of the early voyagers.
Shortly afterwards we took a dinghy ride around a network of channels where we were marveled by the ever charming Galápagos sea lions as they rode the wake of the Zodiac. Some of them jumped by the sides, occasionally splashing water as they fell back into the ocean.
After a deserved breakfast, our meeting was at sea in the realm of sea lions, dolphins, sharks, and thousands of other creatures. The snorkel at Champion Island was just unbelievable: clear water, playful sea lions nearly everywhere, white-tipped reef sharks resting on the sea floor and not only this, but sea birds all around as this area is part of their feeding ground.
Late afternoon, we headed to a small yet beautiful green sandy beach with some lazy sea lions and an army of ghost crabs that, upon our arrival, got lost in their burrows surrounded by hundreds of sandy pellets left by themselves as they fed along.
This relaxed visit was completed with a short hike while bird watching around a brackish water lagoon home to the charming and peaceful greater flamingos. I can say that one of the most enjoyable things here is the peaceful sight of these elegant pink birds as they wade with their heads under the water in search of their daily food supplies.
Just another day in paradise! The idea of getting up early made us seriously think about it. But once up and on the upper deck with a cup of tea in one hand and binoculars in the other, scanning every movement on a calm sea as tuna fish started their daily frenetic search for food, heralded the beginning of an unforgettable experience.
Our early day began by paying a visit to the legendary Post Office Barrel placed on this island at the end of the seventeen hundreds as a way to keep in touch with relatives on the other side of the world. We left our letters and post cards in this old barrel in order to keep the tradition of the early voyagers.
Shortly afterwards we took a dinghy ride around a network of channels where we were marveled by the ever charming Galápagos sea lions as they rode the wake of the Zodiac. Some of them jumped by the sides, occasionally splashing water as they fell back into the ocean.
After a deserved breakfast, our meeting was at sea in the realm of sea lions, dolphins, sharks, and thousands of other creatures. The snorkel at Champion Island was just unbelievable: clear water, playful sea lions nearly everywhere, white-tipped reef sharks resting on the sea floor and not only this, but sea birds all around as this area is part of their feeding ground.
Late afternoon, we headed to a small yet beautiful green sandy beach with some lazy sea lions and an army of ghost crabs that, upon our arrival, got lost in their burrows surrounded by hundreds of sandy pellets left by themselves as they fed along.
This relaxed visit was completed with a short hike while bird watching around a brackish water lagoon home to the charming and peaceful greater flamingos. I can say that one of the most enjoyable things here is the peaceful sight of these elegant pink birds as they wade with their heads under the water in search of their daily food supplies.
