Galapagos Day 6: Pirates, Sea Lions, Turtles and more on Floreana Island

 

Blue-footed booby takes flight in the Galapagos.

The sites, adventures, and wildlife have been stunning here during this six day cruise of the Galapagos Islands. I can't believe it is coming to our final day already. We are going out with a bang though, with a visit to the famous Post Office Bay, zodiac tours, kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking to accomplish. If you are looking for adventure, the Galapagos can be your cup of tea.

The famous barrel post office box in the Galapagos. We all left post cards in the barrel, and we took a look at ones in the barrel to see if any were located back by our homes. Quite a few people took post cards to hand deliver to their recipients back in the states.
Post Office Bay, nestled within the pristine archipelago of the Galapagos Islands, is a site teeming with historical significance and natural beauty. Located on Floreana Island, this bay holds a unique tradition that dates back to the 18th century when whalers and sailors established a makeshift postal system. Sailors would leave letters in a wooden barrel, trusting passing ships to deliver them to their intended recipients upon reaching their home ports. Today, this tradition persists as visitors can participate by leaving postcards or letters in the same historic barrel, continuing the legacy of communication across oceans. The bay's turquoise waters and sandy shores provide a picturesque backdrop for snorkeling adventures, where visitors can encounter playful sea lions, graceful sea turtles, and a kaleidoscope of colorful fish darting among the vibrant coral reefs.

Beyond its natural allure, Post Office Bay serves as a testament to the human history woven into the fabric of the Galapagos Islands. Exploring the nearby highlands unveils remnants of past settlements, including the enigmatic Wittmer and Baroness Lookouts, which offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can immerse themselves in tales of intrigue surrounding Floreana's colorful past, from pirate hideouts to mysterious disappearances. As one of the earliest inhabited islands in the Galapagos, Floreana retains a sense of rustic charm and tranquility, inviting travelers to delve into its rich history while marveling at the unparalleled biodiversity that defines this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These sea lions couldn't get enough of me. They were just as curious of me, as I was of them!
During the afternoon we snorkeled at an offshore rock called Champion. It was another drift snorkel along the rocky coast, and conditions started out pretty rough. We were up for the challenge though and it paid off, with our group having one of the funnest and most interactive sea lion experiences of my life. We also had big schools of fish and even a few sea turtles appearing out of the deep blue. While we didn't see any sharks, I imagine they were close by, because as nightfall came, about 30 galapagos sharks hung out around out boat!

This is a little blurry since I took it at night, but count how many sharks are hanging out behind out boat! Anyone want to go for a night snorkel?

Finally, we had a late afternoon walk across the island near Punta Cormorant. We spotted some Darwinian Finches and bright yellow warblers before ending up on a picturesque white sand beach. The dunes were littered with sea turtle nest, and much to our surprise, we saw a few sea turtles hatching and scampering out of the nest towards the sea. However, we were not the only ones to see the turtles hatching. A magnificent frigatebird also spied the tasty turtles emerging from the sand. Each time another turtle emerged, the frigatebird would swoop down at snatch the turtle in its beak, eating it as it flew off.

We were all impressed, and saddened at the same time. Everyone really wanted the baby turtles to make it to the ocean safely. Finally, one little baby made it out of the dunes and onto the beach. Without saying a word, the entire group lined up on both sides of the turtle, keeping a wary eye on the sky for our hungry frigatebird. Cheers erupted as the baby turtle made it into the water! I didn't have the heart to tell people that it would probably get snatched up by a big fish, or shark, or sea bird before too long. So we all just basked in the glory of the feeling that we helped one baby sea turtle make it!

These sally lightfoot crabs add a splash of color to the black lava rock landscape.

As we sat in awe, watching a baby sea turtle hatch and emerge out of its sandy nest, it quickly turned to surprise as a magnificent frigatebird swooped down and ate it!

A friendly Galapagos sea lion playing around our kayak.

A baby sea turtle hatching on the beach in the Galapagos Isalnds.

Zodiac tour near Post Office Bay on Floreana Island. Check out the blue-footed boobies just hanging on the rock.

Incredible blue hue of the blue-footed booby.

La Pinta has been a wonderful home base for all of our adventures this week. 48 guests, wonderful chefs, and stellar guides.

A Galapagos Yellow Warbler

The landscapes here are like something out of a Dr. Suess book.

The wonderful crew of La Pinta lining up on the final night.

On the beach at Post Office Bay on Floreana Island, Galapagos.

Walking across the island near Punta Cormorant.

Making friends with the guides.

Post Office Bay. An old barrel here acted as a post office box for pirates back in the day. We still leave messages today.

Incredible underwater snorkel at Champion Island. Conditions were quite rough, but we had a blast, especially at this sea lion hangout.

You can see the one sea lion communicating by blowing underwater bubbles, as another comes in for his closeup!

Feeling like I'm in the school!