Floreana Island
This morning was another brilliant day, and we spent it at the Post Office barrel on Floreana Island. This was the first mailing system in South America, operating since 1793. The barrel was placed there by Captain James Colnett of the British Royal Navy, and officially marked the beginning of the era of the whaling époque. Everybody was ready to go at 6:30 am, to deliver their post cards in a place that once was visited by pirates. As a result we found many souvenirs left on that site as memories of people that in one way or another have been immortalized.
Also known as the “Mystery Island”, this island has a lot of human history, and it was one of the first islands colonized by humans, not many, but very strange people.
After the early visit, we navigated a short distance to an island called Champion, and the highlight was snorkeling. Among the marine life sighted were: Pocillopora, Pavona and Porites coral, pencil sea urchins, parrotfish, wrasses, king angelfishes, yellowtail surgeonfish, Mexican hogfish, sea turtle, white–tip reef sharks, Panama sergeant majors, giant damselfish. Were probably the best. Other creatures to be seen were sea lions, and blue-footed boobies diving and catching black striped salemas. It was truly fun, so much action. No one wanted to end this unique experience – hopefully we will get the chance repeat again some day; let’s cross our fingers!
After the snorkeling outing we took the Zodiacs and went on a boat ride around this island. We found the beautiful red-billed tropic bird; it is one of the most difficult birds catch in flight and it is even more challenging to take a picture of it, because if they are not in the air they are inside their crevices; but today it landed in a clear area, so we were blessed again by nature. Soon, another bird came on the scene, the Floreana Mockingbird, a species considered unique to two satellite islets in front of Floreana; less than 30 pairs are left, and today we spotted seven individuals, so it was very special.
After we all delighted ourselves with lunch, at 2:00 pm kayakers were placed in the water for more adventures. The peaceful bay, the features of the cliff, the turquoise water (so transparent that you could see the bottom), sea turtles resting, boobies diving, and the simplicity of being connected with this mystery island.
Later we still had more fun. At 4:00 pm we set off again to explore Punta Cormorant and landed on a beach formed by semiprecious crystals which give the sand a gorgeous green coloration.
We were looking for Darwin finches, shore birds at the brackish lagoon, home of the pinkest flamingos in the world. Everything matches so perfectly in harmony: the exuberant vegetation of the island, the volcanic cones, and the trail so easily walked. We took this route to get to the other side of the island and we arrived at the flour beach, so fine and so white that it is hard to believe that it is real.
I guess by the end of the day nature could not have been more generous with us. We can expect more of this in the next coming days. I think we should not be greedy and the only thing we should expect is to keep building this link with Mother Nature for the rest of our days in Galápagos.
This morning was another brilliant day, and we spent it at the Post Office barrel on Floreana Island. This was the first mailing system in South America, operating since 1793. The barrel was placed there by Captain James Colnett of the British Royal Navy, and officially marked the beginning of the era of the whaling époque. Everybody was ready to go at 6:30 am, to deliver their post cards in a place that once was visited by pirates. As a result we found many souvenirs left on that site as memories of people that in one way or another have been immortalized.
Also known as the “Mystery Island”, this island has a lot of human history, and it was one of the first islands colonized by humans, not many, but very strange people.
After the early visit, we navigated a short distance to an island called Champion, and the highlight was snorkeling. Among the marine life sighted were: Pocillopora, Pavona and Porites coral, pencil sea urchins, parrotfish, wrasses, king angelfishes, yellowtail surgeonfish, Mexican hogfish, sea turtle, white–tip reef sharks, Panama sergeant majors, giant damselfish. Were probably the best. Other creatures to be seen were sea lions, and blue-footed boobies diving and catching black striped salemas. It was truly fun, so much action. No one wanted to end this unique experience – hopefully we will get the chance repeat again some day; let’s cross our fingers!
After the snorkeling outing we took the Zodiacs and went on a boat ride around this island. We found the beautiful red-billed tropic bird; it is one of the most difficult birds catch in flight and it is even more challenging to take a picture of it, because if they are not in the air they are inside their crevices; but today it landed in a clear area, so we were blessed again by nature. Soon, another bird came on the scene, the Floreana Mockingbird, a species considered unique to two satellite islets in front of Floreana; less than 30 pairs are left, and today we spotted seven individuals, so it was very special.
After we all delighted ourselves with lunch, at 2:00 pm kayakers were placed in the water for more adventures. The peaceful bay, the features of the cliff, the turquoise water (so transparent that you could see the bottom), sea turtles resting, boobies diving, and the simplicity of being connected with this mystery island.
Later we still had more fun. At 4:00 pm we set off again to explore Punta Cormorant and landed on a beach formed by semiprecious crystals which give the sand a gorgeous green coloration.
We were looking for Darwin finches, shore birds at the brackish lagoon, home of the pinkest flamingos in the world. Everything matches so perfectly in harmony: the exuberant vegetation of the island, the volcanic cones, and the trail so easily walked. We took this route to get to the other side of the island and we arrived at the flour beach, so fine and so white that it is hard to believe that it is real.
I guess by the end of the day nature could not have been more generous with us. We can expect more of this in the next coming days. I think we should not be greedy and the only thing we should expect is to keep building this link with Mother Nature for the rest of our days in Galápagos.
