Floreana and Isabela Islands

Today, like every morning, it is a pleasure to get up and see the beautiful light coming from the sun rising and its spectrum. Green, red, and orange are some of the colours refracted over the hill of what was once upon a time a volcano.

Our wake up call was at six in the morning. Of course it was an optional one, but even so, the amount of guests who wanted to see the historic post office barrel at Floreana Island was impressive. When setting foot on the island, a chill that flows up your legs reacted in our bodies as if you were magically transported back in time. As the naturalist started the explanation of how this area used to be a major flowing of whalers and buccaneers, we could feel and even imagine clearly those days. Those where difficult times, indeed. Times when sailors from many different places of the world were looking for treasures, or simply, a better day for their future.

It was then when a famous Captain from the Royal British Navy started the oldest mailing system in South America. The system had prevailed until our days, but now it brings laughs and happiness to our guests. The system now implies hand delivery of the mail, promising new friends and an instant invitation to wonderland: Galápagos!

Later in the morning we repositioned the Polaris to a different area, Champion island. This is definitely one of the most the most amazing places for snorkeling during our trip. For many of our guests, it was the very first time to swim with sharks and sea lions. It was obvious to see that our guests are rapidly adapting and evolving to our environment, since the sea lions weren’t the only ones to twist and contort their bodies at the rhythm of the waves.

The afternoon was spent at a quiet and little town located at the southern side of Isabela Island. It was here, at Puerto Villamil, where we could see for first time the Galápagos giant tortoises.

For all of us, explorers of the Polaris, being in touch with nature is our primary idea of a vacation. Isabela and Floreana provided today the perfect environment to fulfill that feeling. Later in the afternoon, as magically as it appeared, the sun set rapidly at the horizon, but not without the promise to come back with more adventures…