Floreana Island
Today we started very early in the morning, taking advantage of the firsts hours of the day. After disembarking on a green sandy beach formed by tiny small pieces of silicate crystals known as olivine at Cormorant Point, we passed through a brackish lagoon inhabited by graceful pinkish birds, the greater flamingoes. We continued walking to the other end of the Point where we found fresh sea turtle tracks on the white coralline sandy dunes of the area. Then we headed back to the National Geographic Endeavour for a well-deserved breakfast.
Later on in the morning, we were back on the Zodiacs circumnavigating Champion Islet looking for the elusive Charles mockingbirds, which were spotted either on the ground or on top of the prickly pear cacti. After coming back to the National Geographic Endeavour and gearing up for snorkeling, we got into the crystal clear water around Champion, and we found an incredible large number of playful sea lions, white tip reef sharks, surgeonfish, damsel fish, parrotfish among many other species; it was an unforgettable experience.
In the afternoon we went to the Post Office Bay Barrel, our guests enjoyed sharing the left letters among themselves for hand delivery, following the old tradition started by whalers in the late 1700’s. Besides all of these, the almost-greenish landscape of Floreana reminded us that the weather might be changing soon as the rainy season comes to its end.
The last activity we did it was a Zodiac ride, where we tested the different ecosystems that Galápagos has as we went to the mangroves on the tiny islets where many species of different organism are attracted by the productive system created by this amazing trees. We spotted rays, sharks, and sea turtles in the water while the sun was setting painting the sky with enchanted colors. What a great to finish another day in paradise.
