Floreana Island
We disembarked before breakfast at Post Office Bay, each one of us with a postcard in hand. The barrel here is full of them, waiting to be taken and hand delivered, according to the tradition that ruled the Post Office since it was created about 200 years ago. This chapter of Galápagos history is also an opportunity to remember the whalers – the beginning of human colonization in the archipelago and its consequences.
Champion Islet is home to a treasure of biodiversity that has disappeared from neighboring Floreana due to human impact. Massive Opuntias cover the islet and offer shelter to the last population of mocking birds. They were wiped out on Floreana as introduced species devastated the island, but we could observe them on the Zodiac ride. Champion Islet represents a hope for Floreana restoration.
It is also a treasure of marine life, and the snorkeling is impressive here. Large school of fish and sea lions wait for us. These morning activities kept us very active, and the afternoon began with a kayak exploration along the coast of Floreana. Many turtles surfaced at our side before diving back into the blue.
We got back on board and prepared to disembark at Punta Cormorant. This is a place to be discovered, to be felt, and to be enjoyed. The dune provides a gestation place to turtle eggs buried in it, and the frigate and the sting rays wait for the hatchlings.
The shore is where a new cycle of life begins. It is the fragile line where the sea comes into contact with land and fertilizes it. Galápagos, more so than any other place, reminds us that life is dependent on the sea.
