Floreana Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The sixth largest island in the Galapagos is Floreana. It was favoured for its good supply of tortoise meat and fresh highland water in the 1800's. Due to continued human interference the tortoise population is now extinct and feral cats so severely preyed on the Charles mockingbird it is only found on a few islets.

Up early,0600 hrs and dinghy to Floreana Island, a wet landing, so shoes in hand and quick drop off in the surf. We walked up to Baroness look out point and took in the beautiful surrounding views whilst Omar related the history of this island. It was a lovely start to the day and we headed back to our boat for breakfast, after which it was back into the dinghy and to Post Office Bay. I took the opportunity to again go snorkelling but again the swell was slightly too high which in turn disturbed the fine sandy bottom, so viz not too good. After snorkelling we headed slightly inland and deposited our postcards in a barrel on the beach after hearing the history of this idea. It was originally for the 18th century British whalers who left their post here to be collected by the homeward bound crews. The postcards are still left obviously written and addressed but without stamps. Everyone who attends this postbox goes through the many cards and the idea being if you find some within the locality of where you reside you take them and drop them off when you get home. People from all around the world attend this postbox on a daily basis and deliver the cards for free. You can also leave cards here for anyone who you think may attend in the future. We'll see if the system works !!
Next another highlight for me was was a dinghy from our main boat out to Devils Crown Rocks another snorkelling site but this time deep water and drop offs. Visibility was great and immediately we spotted six white tipped reef sharks below us, three eagle rays, three barracuda and a turtle. Not bad for just getting in. This incredible display of marine life continued with more of the same including Mexican hog fish, surgeon fish, parrot fish, reef cornet fish, trumpet fish, triggerfish, wrasse and angel fish to name a few plus star fish, lobster, crayfish and much more. A slight current made for an exhilarating hour and a half, swimming, duck diving and floating around this incredible site, again taking numerous photos. Leaving the water shattered it was time for another superb lunch.
The afternoon activity was another wet landing at Cormorant Point, a beautiful beach with sea lions, a walk across the island to an even better beach to watch Eagle rays mating in the surf and to see a turtle nesting area. All in all another fantastic day finished off with again watching marine life from the back of the boat after dinner.


1. Baroness lookout point
2. My good self at Post Office Bay
3-10. Underwater shots showing a variety of surgeon fish, Mexican hogfish, white tipped ref shark, crayfish and starfish.
11. Me rising from the deep, shattered, after brilliant time.
12-14. Devils Crown with some blue footed boobies.
15-16. On the beach amongst the sea lions.
17. Grasshopper
18-19. Great and magnificent frigate bird.

Can't believe it's the final day tomorrow of this magnificent trip to the Galápagos.

Buenos noches,

Tony x