Due to the arrival of various discoverers and settlers over the years, most islands in the Galápagos archipelago have at least one Spanish and one English name. Also called the “Mystery Island,” Floreana has a unique human history, including failed business enterprises and disappearances in the 1930s. During the whaling era over a hundred years ago, Post Office Bay, north of Floreana, was a mandatory last stop for homeward bound ships. At a time when no official mailing system existed, sailors dropped letters in the Post Office barrel with hopes that a future traveler might hand-deliver them. This was the only way sailors could maintain communication with their families back home.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 10 Jan 2022
Floreana Island, 1/10/2022, National Geographic Endeavour II
- Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
- Galápagos
Gaby Bohorquez, Naturalist
Gaby was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Her first job in the Galapagos was on board a 90-passenger cruise ship as the cruise director’s assistant, and she fell under the spell of the Enchanted Isles. She returned to Guayaquil to study at the ...
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Exploring Galápagos
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5/12/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Floreana Island
We started our day early at Punta Cormorant just as the sun came up. Nearby, the rocky outline of Devil’s Crown stood out in the distance. As we landed, sea lions were waiting on the beach, giving us a lively start to the morning. During our walk, we visited a large brackish lagoon that’s known for attracting flamingos. We were lucky to see a few of them, which can be rare depending on the season. The highlight of the day was snorkeling at Champion Islet. The water was calm and clear, and we saw a wide variety of marine life. Sea lions swam nearby, and we spotted plenty of colorful fish. In the afternoon, we went kayaking in a quiet, protected area, sharing the space with sea turtles and rays. We finished the day at Floreana Island’s Post Office Barrel where we joined the tradition of leaving and/or taking a postcard for hand delivery upon our return home. A beautiful sunset ended the day.
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National Geographic Gemini
Rabida And Puerto Egas
Early in the morning on the first day of our expedition, we were greeted by a pod of dolphins on our way to Rabida Island. Located in the center of the archipelago, Rabida holds an incredible variety of wildlife, including flamingos, oyster catchers, Galapagos doves, lava lizards, and marine iguanas. After breakfast, we departed for our snorkeling outing. Playful Galapagos sea lions, whitetip reef sharks, and many species of fish joined us in the water. It was a wonderful morning! We spent the afternoon visiting Puerto Egas on Santiago Island. We disembarked on a beautiful black-sand beach, and just a few steps into our walk, we were surprised by a very healthy Galapagos land iguana. The bright yellow coloration of the iguana was hard to miss. We finished our walk exploring the stunning landscape of Puerto Egas as the guests took pictures in the scenic grottos found on site.