Floreana Island
This morning we had an early wake-up option for an easy hike. It started on a green beach, colored in part due to a semi-precious stone called olivine mixed with volcanic ash. Behind the beach lies a brackish water lagoon that is for birds of all different class and form, like greater flamingoes, pintail ducks, black-necked stilts and occasionally waders and migratory birds.
Further down the trail we arrived at a white coralline beach where green sea turtles nest throughout the year. We saw quite a few in the water, maybe resting from last night’s work. Another incredible encounter were a sighting of diamond sting rays, there by the hundreds right underneath the breaking waves. These two facts restrict people from snorkeling here, so we walked along the beach and found a rocky place with hundreds of colorful sally light-foot crabs. This was a great moment for pictures because they are so pretty and stand out well on the black lava.
The vegetation of the area is poor but still very interesting because some species are unique to the area. Just to mention a few, we saw the Scalesia Villosa and Floreana Daisy, both in the sun flower family, or Asteraceae.
We went back aboard the ship for breakfast and a short navigation to a satellite island called Champion, where we could do two activities. The first consisted of a Zodiac ride around the island for the possibility of seeing the Floreana Mockingbird, which due to severe predation by introduced animals like rats, became extinct on the main island. They survive only here, and only by a few hundreds. We saw some of them flying and perching on the cacti or other trees.
This island also has many sea lions that were looking at us, as if asking when we are getting in. We said soon, after we go back aboard and get changed! We got ready and immediately headed out again to meet our lovely friends the sea lions in the water. We plunged in to see giant schools of fish: king angel fishes, yellow surgeon fishes, sea starts, pelican barracudas, sea urchins, diving boobies, Moorish idols, and some rays. The best part of it was meeting the acrobatic sea lions, swimming around us blowing bubbles, twirling, playing stunts and more, just if they were paid to do it.
The afternoon came and we were ready to head out again, this time to do some activities previously chosen by our guests. One activity was to kayak around little islets with sea lions, birds, iguanas and more. The other was another Zodiac ride around the same area to finish with the visit to the Post Office Barrel for the exchange of mail. This is a very special way of communication for whalers and others visiting the islands, set up around 1793 by an English Captain called James Colnett. When you arrive here, you go through the mail left behind by other travelers, find one addressed near your living area, and hand deliver it. This is a great idea for making friends and sharing memories of an unforgettable unique place.
Near this location there is a sandy soccer field where some of the kids could demonstrate their skill in this sport and have a lot of fun. A wonderful sunset brought a fantastic end to this lovely day in the Galápagos Islands.
