Floreana and Isabela Islands
Last night, during the navigation from Española to Floreana, some of our guests saw bottlenose dolphins bow riding the Polaris and shining with amazing light, due to the bioluminescence of planktonic creatures suspended in the water.
Our first outing today started early in the morning, to visit one of the most remarkable places in the entire Galápagos archipelago, Post Office Bay, which brings us memories of the first seamen that sailed in the early 17th and 18th centuries: pirates, whalers, buccaneers, seal hunters, etc. Many visited the Island to get supplies of fresh water and meat. They knew that Floreana had fresh water up in the highlands, and also had the emblematic creatures, giant tortoises, who were taken from there to be part of their diet. Unfortunately for this reason that race is extinct nowadays. A captain of one of those ships set up a mail box barrel in 1793; his name was James Colnett, and that was the only way crew could keep in touch with their families in Europe. Today it is only visitors to the Galápagos who keep the tradition, leaving and hand delivering postcards; today several guest did the same.
After breakfast we moved to a little satellite islet off Floreana, Champion. There we explored the marine ecosystem; from the very first moment we realized the richness of the marine reserve, the diversity of fish with beautiful colors, sea lions playing with us. Some of the guests who stayed out of the water explored the under sea life through the glass bottom boat, same animals but from a different perspective.
In the afternoon we visited Puerto Villamil in Isabela Island, where we had the opportunity to interact with the local people, enjoying its beaches as well. We observed several flamingoes in a brackish lagoon, and we can not forget about the most symbolic animal from this exceptional archipelago, the giant tortoise at the rearing center in the vicinity of town.
Last night, during the navigation from Española to Floreana, some of our guests saw bottlenose dolphins bow riding the Polaris and shining with amazing light, due to the bioluminescence of planktonic creatures suspended in the water.
Our first outing today started early in the morning, to visit one of the most remarkable places in the entire Galápagos archipelago, Post Office Bay, which brings us memories of the first seamen that sailed in the early 17th and 18th centuries: pirates, whalers, buccaneers, seal hunters, etc. Many visited the Island to get supplies of fresh water and meat. They knew that Floreana had fresh water up in the highlands, and also had the emblematic creatures, giant tortoises, who were taken from there to be part of their diet. Unfortunately for this reason that race is extinct nowadays. A captain of one of those ships set up a mail box barrel in 1793; his name was James Colnett, and that was the only way crew could keep in touch with their families in Europe. Today it is only visitors to the Galápagos who keep the tradition, leaving and hand delivering postcards; today several guest did the same.
After breakfast we moved to a little satellite islet off Floreana, Champion. There we explored the marine ecosystem; from the very first moment we realized the richness of the marine reserve, the diversity of fish with beautiful colors, sea lions playing with us. Some of the guests who stayed out of the water explored the under sea life through the glass bottom boat, same animals but from a different perspective.
In the afternoon we visited Puerto Villamil in Isabela Island, where we had the opportunity to interact with the local people, enjoying its beaches as well. We observed several flamingoes in a brackish lagoon, and we can not forget about the most symbolic animal from this exceptional archipelago, the giant tortoise at the rearing center in the vicinity of town.
