Floreana Island welcomed us early in the morning as we landed at Cormorant Point along the northern coast. Some of the deepest human history of the islands is found among the unique flora and fauna found here. This is one of only two islands in the archipelago that has fresh water year round.
American flamingos waded in the brackish pond to feed as blue-footed boobies dove for their sustenance along the coast. Galapagos flycatchers flitted about with a very lyrical song and Darwin’s finches were busy in their nesting areas as we walked inland.
Guests found the geology interesting as we walked upon a peridot/olivine crystal beach and hiked to a coralline organic sand beach where numerous Pacific green sea turtle tracks were seen from the previous evening.
The late afternoon brought us to Post Office Bay. We continued the long-running tradition of taking mail (from a post barrel that has been around since the late 1700s) to be hand delivered back home and leaving post cards for fellow travelers to deliver in the future.
The hues of the setting sun broke through the clouds as Captain Mario lifted the “hook” and we continued our journey of exploration into the night.
