 Floreana, Flamingo |
After traveling overnight we've arrived at Floreana Island, one of the 4 islands that Charles Darwin visited onboard the HMS Beagle. This island also served as the capital of the Galapagos during the 19th century. Today there are 4 options for excursions and/or snorkeling activities. The first, a medium intensity excursion departs the ship at 8am. This is a wet landing (you step off of the Zodiac's onto the beach) with a short hike to a brackish pond, home of some of the Island's flamingos. Continuing on the hike we arrive at another white sand beach where sharks and rays are spotted. There is also evidence of recent turtle activity because we see the nesting areas where eggs are laid. Back at the beach where we landed, we are able to snorkel along a long rock wall out from the beach. There are a few playful sea lions and many colorful fish found during the snorkeling.
During this "gentle" snorkeling activity from the beach, the more advanced snorkelers depart to Champion Island for possible viewing of sea lions, rays, small sharks and sea turtles. Upon their return, many of the participants said this was a great snorkeling activity, and should be considered by anyone that is comfortable in depths to 100 feet with some water current.
Everyone is back onboard by 11:45 to enjoy a Galapagos Islands Buffet Lunch at Darwin's Restaurant. Excursions begin in the afternoon at 2pm with a High Intensity snorkel excursion to Mystery Bay. At 4pm, a low intensity, wet landing excursion departs for a hike to Baroness Lookout. Named after a self-proclaimed Baroness that terrorized the local inhabitants while planning to build a luxury hotel, the Baroness and her two suitors eventually turned up dead - for no apparent reason, thus causing Floreana to be referred to as the Island of Mystery. The hike is preceded by about an hour of zodiac cruising through a mangrove area where we spot rays, sharks, great egrets and lava herons. After the wet beach landing, we follow a steep but short trail approximately 300 ft that ends at a viewing platform. Note: this wet landing and hike can be skipped by those with mobility issues - but the zodiac cruise will be enjoyed by all.
By approximately 6pm everyone is back onboard and we're underway to our next stop. At 7:30 we meet in Discovery Lounge for the daily briefing of particular items of interest at our next destination and the tomorrows activities.
Following dinner at Darwin's we arrive at our next destination, Bachas Beach where we'll anchor overnight. Around 10:30pm, there is a stargazing experience on the upper deck of the Xpedition. One of the ship's officers provides commentary and explains the night skies to us. The combination of both the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere constellations are unique - including the ability to view both the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross. After the stargazing we are treated to a fantastic show in the water below our anchoring lights. Following the insects drawn by the light, we see flying fish, lighting fast sea lions and lurking sharks all hunting and cruising right below the ship's railings. The ship's crew drop a special night vision camera into the water to show us an image of what is taking place below the surface.
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