Floreana Island
After an exciting navigation with heavy winds last night, we arrived this morning at the calm Post Office Bay. It was a bit overcast, which is typical around the southern islands of the archipelago at this time of the year. At 6:30am we had our wake-up call, and at 7:00am we went to visit the world famous Post Office Barrel. After our wet landing, we walked just 300ft to find the barrel behind the coastal vegetation. Antonio Adrian, one of the National Geographic Islander Naturalists explained in detail the fascinating history of this place. It is believed that the Post Office Barrel was set up in the area back in 1793 by an English whaler and Captain named James Colnett. This mailing system became the only means of communication for whalers to stay in touch with their relatives and friends. People who were homebound would take the mail and hand-deliver it. That was compulsory, and it could take up to months or even years for the messages to finally reach their destination.
We read through the addresses so we could decide which messages to take, and we reminded each other to hand deliver them to following the tradition. Right after this amusing visit we returned to the ship. During breakfast, the National Geographic Islander moved to Champion Islet. We went on a Zodiac ride around the islet looking for the elusive and very rare Charles or Floreana Mockingbird – we were lucky for we found it! There were also Galápagos sea lions, Swallow tailed gulls, Red bill tropic birds, Giant Prickly Pear cacti and more. It was a very magical experience for we felt that our ride was as close as you can get of being one with n.ature. Pamela, one of our guests on board, said that for her “Sea lions are the beautiful babies of the sea.”
Back onboard we had an exquisite lunch and some rest. Some guests went kayaking, others went to the beach and finally we all went for a walk on Punta Cormorant. The landing site is on a green olivine sandy beach, and behind the landing site there is a brackish water lagoon. This place at the end of the trail has a gorgeous white and soft sandy beach, Pacific green sea turtles nest there, and diamond sting rays rest at this place as well.
