We spent the whole day at Floreana Island in three different locations. Even though they are very close together, they look very different from each other. And in order to accomplish our program we had to start our day with a pre-breakfast activity, first we hiked over compacted volcanic ash. It was a very easy trail and suitable for everyone onboard the National Geographic Islander.
We disembarked on a volcanic material beach with a high concentration of olivine crystals, that is the reason this beach is known as a green beach. Soon after, we had a small group of baby sea lions that came very close to us, as a welcoming committee to their home Island. As soon as we started our easy hike, we passed by a brackish lagoon with a few pink flamingos, some of them nesting.
We finally arrived to the windward side of the beach. Due to its topography and a big sandy dune, this beach is a very important nesting ground for pacific green sea turtles. And it was very rare to see fresh turtles’ tracks along the beach. The season for nesting is over, but who knows better than Mother Nature.
As we boarded our Zodiacs to come back onboard, a lonely penguin came very close to us. Perhaps he is the farewell committee.
Later in the morning we were exploring Champion Island, which is a small volcano off the coast of the main Island of Floreana.
This one and a half mile Island is considered to be one of the best places for snorkeling and Zodiac riding, and this morning was no exception, because the water was very pleasant and crystal blue with big schools of different kinds of fish, such as: pelican barracudas, sharks, rays, playful sea lions, turtles and many others as well. And along its cliffs formation there were lots of soaring sea birds.
For the afternoon we visited a historical place known as Post Office Barrel. This place was visited by whalers in the early eighteen hundreds, when some of the whalers decided to set a barrel to have a link of communication with their families in England. Once they had enough whales’ oil, they passed by this bay collecting correspondence to hand deliver to loved ones. This afternoon we kept this old tradition alive by dropping and collecting post cards with no stamps needed to hand deliver. That is a good way to make new Galapagos friends.
We still had our last activity of the day, visiting some little rockery islets with giant prickly pear cactus and sea lions. The tide was very low, making it possible to explore everywhere by Zodiac and kayak. This place was covered with mangroves and lots of shore birds hunting for prey.
It was a memorable day that will stay in our hearts forever and ever.
