Floreana Island
Today we started our day early in the morning at Punta Cormorant in Floreana Island. Here we went ashore for our pre-breakfast hike. We landed on a green sandy beach; there we learned about the different materials from which we can get sand. During our walk we passed by a brackish lagoon where we spotted several shore birds including the several colorful great flamingos. On the leeward side of the point we found a number of sea turtles floating on a shallow calm bay. Some of them were mating, which indicates that the breeding season just started. The white sandy dunes were covered with fresh sea turtle tracks, made by females during their attempts to lay eggs during the hot rainy season.
Later on we visited a small island called Champion for a Zodiac ride and snorkeling. During the Zodiac ride we had the opportunity to see lots of seabirds such as: Galápagos shearwaters, Nazca boobies, Red billed tropicbirds and the elusive Floreana mockingbird hopping among the pads of a prickly pear cacti forest. Snorkeling was amazing; the conditions were superb—crystal clear and warm water. In the water we were surrounded by hundreds of colorful tropical fish such as king angel fish, creoles fish, pelican barracudas, sergeant mayors, parrot fish, white-tipped sharks, Galápagos sharks, and rays. Also we got the chance to swim with the playful sea lions that live in a large number in Champion.
In the afternoon we visited Post Office Bay. This place is famous for its history. Back during the Industrial Revolution whalers visited Floreana for fresh water and tortoises. And they used an honor-based system to send letters to their friends and family. Later on some of us kayaked and others took a panga ride around the Loberia. We spotted several species of egrets and herons, brown pelican and even Galápagos penguins, we had a great time. On our way back to National Geographic Islander we had a colorful sunset at the same time the full moon was rising above the horizon creating an enchanting effect.
It was another great day in paradise.
