Day Six ... Isla Floreana

We got to sleep in today! We had a 6.45 am alarm set for a 7.00am breakfast. Pure luxury.

The boat had travelled overnight and the seas were a little rough so we had to pick up the things that had fallen off tables and dressers in the night. Ian had a restless night with a gurgly tummy ... nothing serious  ... just his regular african parasite that he picked up back in 1990!

I decided to skip breakfast. I am not used to eating a cooked breakfast, a 3 course lunch and a 3 course dinner! Ian ate some cereal just to help with settling the tummy.

Then we were off on the pangas for a wet landing (you jump off the panga straight into the water) at Green Beach on Isla Floreana. It is called green beach because of these tiny stones/crystals mixed in with the sand that give the beach a greenish colour.

Today was to prove a lucky day for our group. Firstly we had the beach entirely to ourselves (no other yachts were docked which is unusual). Secondly,  Juan had told us that if we were lucky we might see penguins later in the day in a different location.  

However, as we stood on the beach discussing the Galapagos Pelican sitting in the tree it took off and began diving into the water for fish, and what happened was as he dove, penguins also jumped out of the water! So we stood there watching boobies and pelicans diving for fish with the penguins also jumping out of the water in little arcs a bit like a dolphins. Juan was so surprised as he has never seen penguins in that bay.

We eventually headed off on our walk in towards the brackish lake where we hoped to see flamingos. And here is our third bonus of the day. Juan told us that there is estimated to be 500 Galapagos flamingos left and that our chances of seeing them was very rare.  And we saw 13! Now they were a long way away ... but with the aid of binoculars and a camera with a zoom we were able to see them more clearly. 

Flamingos

We had to leave the lake to head on to Turtle Beach and as we hiked along the lovely sandy path (bliss after the rocks of yesterday) with Juan pointing out the incense tree, the native carpenter bee (HUGE), some yellow warblers and a ground finch, the flamingos took flight and did a sweeping arc of the lake. I just barely caught it on film ... but the view was spectacular. 

We arrived at the next beach, very hot and sweaty, where there are turtle nests. You could see the marks on the sand where they had left the water and dragged themselves up onto the beach. We did spy some turtles in the water  ... they appear as a black shadow in the water ... and saw their heads pop up for a breath but trying to capture them in a photo was absolutely impossible!

We walked back across the ridge of Cormorant Point, boarded the pangas and headed back to MY Galaxy where the staff greated us with freshly juiced and icy mango juice.

After a chance to get dried off, and change clothes ... we settled back on board to chill for an hour (along with Yitka and Richard) whilst the rest of the group went for another deep water snorkel in the rain!

With our snorkelling crew back on board we had our briefing for tomorrow (sadly we leave 😢) before heading to lunch where Paola our chef instructed us on how to make our own ceviche.  Ian had a fish version and I was given a spicy tomato and avocado mix (yum).  This was accompanied by dried plantain chips and popcorn.  Then the lunch buffet (chicken, fish, sweet potatoes and vegetables) and the meal ended with chocolate banana bread.

After lunch, with no activity until 3.00pm my fellow travellers scattered to their rooms for siesta ... Ian included! I sat in the lounge writing the blog whilst watching a David Attenborough documentary on the Galapagos Islands ... which was fascinating.

At 3.00pm we boarded the pangas for one last ride ... Juan took us for a tour to some rocky outcrops where sea lions, Blue Footed Boobies, and penguins rest at the end of their day. Sadly there were no penguins this afternoon but we weren't too fussed given that we had been lucky enough to see them in the morning.

We then headed around to a small inlet where sea turtles swim ... and they were there in abundance (20+). They are incredibly difficult to photograph as they appear as a shadow in the water and then pop their head up to take a single breathe and then they are away again.

We then headed to Post Office Bay where a tradition has started that involves writing a postcard to someone we know in the hope that one day it will get delivered by another visitor to the Galapagos.  So we we left a post card for someone and we collected a card from the box that needs to go to a gentleman who lives in Hastings. The aim is that you have to deliver it by hand ... you cannot just pop it in the mail. So ... Ken (who lives in a retirement village) will be getting a visit from us sometime in the future. 

And finally we spent an hour paddling in the beautiful clear waters of the inlet. We walked from one end of the inlet to the other, watching the blue footed boobies, pelicans and one frigate bird diving for fish. The sun slowly went down on the inlet which cast a glorious glow on the ocean. A lovely way to end our time in the Galapagos. 

At 6.30 we gathered for a farewell cocktail and had the opportunity to thank all of the wonderful crew. A photo with everyone in it (except Leandro who was taking the photo.

Then a final dinner ... no photo sorry as we just hoovered it down. Dessert was fantastic.  

And so this is our last night in the Galapagos  on our MY Galaxy. We have loved every single moment.  Tomorrow we are up early for a stop at the Darwin Research Station, transfer to Baltra airport and on to Guayaquil and then Lima for the next part of the adventure.