Today we explored Floreana Island since the early morning. Moments after the National Geographic Islander anchored, we landed on the northern shore to explore the forest and its fantastic wildlife. This island is one of the inhabited ones in this archipelago and it is one of the oldest as well.
We disembarked for a pre-breakfast exploration at Punta Cormorant on the dry north side of Floreana. Moments after landing we entered the mangrove forest that surrounds a brackish lagoon. This place is the right habitat for different types of herons, migrant birds and greater flamingos. As we explored the lagoon we found them all!
At mid-morning after breakfast we explored a satellite island on the north side of Floreana. This small islet is called Champion. It is actually an old volcano, today it is home for sea birds such as: blue footed boobies, Nazca boobies, brown pelicans and many others including a colony of Galapagos sea lions. Here at champion we found the elusive Floreana mocking bird. It has become extinct on the main island due to the presence of animals like cats and rats.
The shallow waters around Champion are an amazing snorkeling site! Here, we snorkeled with sea lions, and plenty of tropical fish. The rocky reef is home for marine organisms of all sizes and colors. We spotted plenty of sea lions, parrot fish and steamer hog fish.
In the afternoon we visited at the legendary post office barrel. We took post cards to continue the old tradition that goes back to the late 1700s, when this place was officially used by seal and whale hunters. This people came from England and the USA to the Galapagos and Floreana was the official mechanism of communication among them and their families back home.
Today we found some postcards to take home!
