Floreana Island

Early in the morning we found ourselves on a very calm bay, and an optional call was given by our expedition leader Lynn Fowler. We glimpsed outside for an Island; Floreana is our next destination and Post Office Bay our first site. Here we continue a tradition set by whalers in the 1700s, a mail swapping system which is still alive today thanks to visitors from all over the planet. Some guests are taking postcards to their destinations and will hand deliver them to their rightful owners who are waiting for a proof of tradition from Floreana Island. Hmm…! I wonder about their encounters….

We reposition and next took a panga ride searching for the Charles mockingbird, one of the most elusive birds to find here on the satellite islet of Champion. Today we all succeeded and cheerfully we returned to the ship to get ready for water activities. Snorkeling around Champion was fantastic, we had almost no current. This place never fails to amaze me. There is never a dull day in the enchanted islands! The ocean seemed to be, just a huge, calm pool. We had great visibility and many marine species: fish of all kinds, reptiles like turtles and iguanas, and mammals like sea lions. We had a great time.

After lunch some opted for the kayak outing to explore our surroundings, and others had a relaxing siesta. Later as the afternoon cooled, we made a wet landing and took a short walk to a brackish lagoon where we enjoyed observing the flamingos. Today we counted 32 and they seemed to be more social then usual; I think they might be ready to mate. Very soon we will be greeted with a “flamenco” dance which is always wonderful to witness.

My dear reader, we have had so many outstanding and memorable experiences that it is hard to express and explain this astonishing place in such a small amount of time and space. You simply ought to be here with us! I really hope that you will become inspired to explore the natural world. A voyage to Galápagos may just be a dream for many. It has been a dream turned into reality for our guests this week. And a day like today will never be forgotten.