Day 6: Florian Island

Next stop — Florian Island!  

We landed on a beach and headed to a spot where 18th century whalers placed a wooden barrel used as an unofficial mailbox. The custom continues to this day with Galapagos visitors. So, we sent a few postcards with the hope they would  arrive before we got home! We also picked one up for delivery to Weston, MA. Next, we snorkeled off the beach with a sea lion playing with us for about 15 minutes. She playfully swam toward, under and around us. During the rest of our swim, we saw over 25 sea turtles of various sizes and colors that kept us more than entertained. 

After a quick pit stop on the boat, we were back in the water — this time at Devil’s Crowns (aka Corona del Diablo), which is a volcanic islet off the northeast coast of Floreana Island. Devil’s Crown is the remnant of an eroded volcanic cone. The central crater mostly submerged, it exposes jagged rock peaks above the water—giving it the appearance of a sinister crown. It’s among the best snorkeling sites in the archipelago. We were treated to a dazzling display of marine life, including white-tipped sharks, manta rays, turtles, sea lions and many colorful fish.

In the afternoon, we explored Cormorant Point, which hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts and white-cheeked pintails can also be seen. The beaches on this island are distinct: The Green Beach is named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the Flour Sand Beach is composed of white coral. The highlight for me was walking along the Flour Sand Beach, which provided a soft, smooth carpet under my feet.