Floreana Island
Today we began with an energizing breakfast that gave us the strength needed for the full day ahead. Floreana is one of the first islands colonized by humans in the early 19th century, and contradictorily is in fact the least populated island among all four inhabited islands in the Galápagos.
Our morning outing took place in one of the most interesting locations in the archipelago, Post Office Bay. It was here in 1793 where Captain James Colnett placed a wine barrel to act as the holder of letters; crew members on board ships in this part of the Pacific would deposit their notes for the next few decades. This barrel would become an insignia of hope, since all those letters had as destination the old continent for their deliver. In fact it is still in use, albeit a newer one, now used exclusively by tourists that turned it into a tradition for anyone who visits this part of the world. As we made our way back to the Polaris, we were surprised by the sighting of the Galápagos penguin that came up just for a glimpse before it disappeared again.
For our afternoon we had planned the visit to Champion Islet. Our main objective was to have a close contact with the marine life of the area. It turned out to be a fascinating experience, as we snorkeled with the sea lions, white tip reef sharks, diamond sting rays and hundreds of colorful fish.
Kayaking was also an option for today, and after lunch we headed to the beautiful shallow water ways of Venice Island. Later on, everyone was invited to participate in the walking option. Punta Cormorant was our destination where we got captivated by the amazing landscape, the flamingos feeding in a brackish water lagoon and the white beach at the other side of the trail. It was precisely on this white beach were we observed a couple of sea turtles mating, marking the beginning of the season.
We headed back to our good ship Polaris, happy to know that there is so much to look forward for…
Today we began with an energizing breakfast that gave us the strength needed for the full day ahead. Floreana is one of the first islands colonized by humans in the early 19th century, and contradictorily is in fact the least populated island among all four inhabited islands in the Galápagos.
Our morning outing took place in one of the most interesting locations in the archipelago, Post Office Bay. It was here in 1793 where Captain James Colnett placed a wine barrel to act as the holder of letters; crew members on board ships in this part of the Pacific would deposit their notes for the next few decades. This barrel would become an insignia of hope, since all those letters had as destination the old continent for their deliver. In fact it is still in use, albeit a newer one, now used exclusively by tourists that turned it into a tradition for anyone who visits this part of the world. As we made our way back to the Polaris, we were surprised by the sighting of the Galápagos penguin that came up just for a glimpse before it disappeared again.
For our afternoon we had planned the visit to Champion Islet. Our main objective was to have a close contact with the marine life of the area. It turned out to be a fascinating experience, as we snorkeled with the sea lions, white tip reef sharks, diamond sting rays and hundreds of colorful fish.
Kayaking was also an option for today, and after lunch we headed to the beautiful shallow water ways of Venice Island. Later on, everyone was invited to participate in the walking option. Punta Cormorant was our destination where we got captivated by the amazing landscape, the flamingos feeding in a brackish water lagoon and the white beach at the other side of the trail. It was precisely on this white beach were we observed a couple of sea turtles mating, marking the beginning of the season.
We headed back to our good ship Polaris, happy to know that there is so much to look forward for…
