Floreana Island

Today was a very fast trip to Floreana Island, one of the most southerly islands and the first to be permanently inhabited, because of the spring fed water supply from the highlands.

We arrived at the rendezvous at 0730 to be told our appointed boat “North Star” was to be changed to “Lunar Azul” and we would not be leaving for at least another hour. We need not have worried – we boarded the fastest boat in the harbour and travelled the 32 miles to Floreana in 80 minutes including 15 minutes circling a huge pod of Common Dolphins and Tuna playing in the glassy sea. The Dolphins would arch clear of the water in groups of 10 or more with many more surfacing in unison.

A dry landing at Floreana followed by a bumpy bus ride to the highlands to see the Giant Land Tortoises introduced from other islands after the local population became extinct.

Photo 1: Tortoise Posing for photos. They coat themselves with mud to keep the ticks away.

Photo 2: The Galapagos Tortises are not as docile as they look.

We visited the natural spring and the old cave ruins of the original European settlers, including a Baroness who arrived with three lovers and eventually disappeared in mysterious circumstances along with her lovers, after a feud over such minor matters as riding naked on horseback and bathing naked in the spring.

Lunch at the local village, population about 100, then back to “Luna Azul” and off to visit the tiny Galapagos Penguins and to actually swim with them in a sheltered cove surrounded with lava rocks and cliffs.

Photo 3: Galapagos Penguins

We snorkelled around the cove teeming with fish including schools of brilliantly coloured King Angelfish.

Photo 4: Stephen Enjoying Snorkelling

En route to the next swim site “Champion Isle” we circled an old eroded volcanic cone with many Blue Footed Boobies resting and fishing.

At “Champion” we snorkeled with the current, over large schools of colourful Angelfish and Parrot, and the most agile young Sea Lions and their mothers. These are wonderfully playful mammals to swim with, never touching but swimming so close to your mask and body you are just mesmerised into trying some of their upside down twists and turns.

Photo 5: Snorkelling with Sea Lions

The next islet was a mass of breeding birds – white fluffy Blue Footed Booby chicks – male Frigatebirds with their red throats fully inflated, doing the mating dance on the steeply sloping ground while the white throated females flew a few metres above deciding which mate to select. Red Billed Tropic birds with their whip like tail were occasionally seen on the wing.

Photo 6: Blue Footed Boobies

Photo 7: More Marine Iguanas

Homeward bound we overtook 5 other charter boats – twin 300HP outboards in full song, not “Salacia’s” gentle cruising style.

We have just returned from another magic evening meal at Angermeyer Restaurant overlooking the water, which is on the site of the original Angermeyer homestead established in 1913, 200 metres from Salacia on a small rocky cliff.

All well in Paradise.