We started our day with a very early morning walk on Gardner Beach. Loads of Sea Lions and a bunch of Hood mockingbirds (Mimus hoodensis) showed up to welcome us to this old island with very rocky ecosystems. After breakfast we snorkeled with a few reef fish species and sea lion pups. In the afternoon we attended a talk by certified photo instructor Ramiro Suarez on “The Truth about Galapagos Photography.” Later we kayaked and drove Zodiacs around Punta Suarez which gave us the chance to hang out with the last sea lions of the day, and even a humpback whale and its calf.
5/12/2025
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Floreana Island
We started our day early at Punta Cormorant just as the sun came up. Nearby, the rocky outline of Devil’s Crown stood out in the distance. As we landed, sea lions were waiting on the beach, giving us a lively start to the morning. During our walk, we visited a large brackish lagoon that’s known for attracting flamingos. We were lucky to see a few of them, which can be rare depending on the season. The highlight of the day was snorkeling at Champion Islet. The water was calm and clear, and we saw a wide variety of marine life. Sea lions swam nearby, and we spotted plenty of colorful fish. In the afternoon, we went kayaking in a quiet, protected area, sharing the space with sea turtles and rays. We finished the day at Floreana Island’s Post Office Barrel where we joined the tradition of leaving and/or taking a postcard for hand delivery upon our return home. A beautiful sunset ended the day.
