Red Mangrove Floreana Lodge

... The tradition continues today... no cards for us though, not least because nobody would receive them before March. <br><br>Walked up to an underground lava tube and decended into blackness. Great time for the torch to break, too. Lava tube cool though.<br><br>Shallow water snorkelling next, and straight away Suzie spotted a turtle. So big and so gracefull. Saw three more, at one point, we, Tim and Stephen swam alongside one that moved so fast we had to really flipper to keep up ...

This morning we head off to Floreana island due south of Galapagos islands. The ocean passage started after midnight, a bit rough but tolerable. I stayed at the top bunk and a couple times I have to brace myself from falling off the the bed due to rocking.<br><br> Floreana is one of the older island in terms of geology abotu 3 millions years old, the volcans has since flattened out. We ...

BIG day today. Up early and off to Post Office Bay on Floreana. 100 meters inland from our landing beach we approach the "post office". For three hundred years this has been a messaging site for mariners passing this way. Two hundred years ago the barrel was installed and the site became official. Now visitors can leave addressed, unstamped mail and search the ...

Galapagos Wildlife Day 7 - 3 December Leon Dormido, San Cristobel, Lobos Island & Interpretation Centre We motored through the night & woke up by Leon Dormido (Sleeping Lion Rock). We couldn't drop anchor (probably too deep) so we steamed around it. This barren island is the nesting ground to many birds. We later saw the Norwegian & the German lads from the original group ...

Galapagos Wildlife Day 6 - 2 December Espanola Island - Punta Suarez & Gardener Bay This was probably our best day - there were several new born sea lions on Punta Suarez beach & surrounding rocks. One was only hours old, the placenta was still attached to the mother. On our guides trek we threaded our way past nesting Blue-footed & Nasca Boobies, some with chicks others still sitting on the eggs. The chicks ...

Thursday 27 November - The Galapagos Islands - The Wildlife Day 3 Chinese Hat Island / Puerto Egas -29 November We sailed for Chinese Hat Island, so called because it looks like a Chinese hat (!). As we sailed, a flock of Frigate birds (or should it be a "fleet" of Frigate birds?) flew within a few feet of us. These birds were my favourite; they have about a 6 ft wingspan & are very agile. When the boat was 'parked' the ...

Thursday - another boat trip. Just as well I like boats and don´t get sea sick! Poor Lucy wasn't feeling well enough so I was tasked with enjoying the trip and taking as many photos as possible. It wasn't a particularly nice day and it's fair to say the boat ride (3.5 hours) was a bit choppy. I was also perching on one side so couldn't avoid the numerous people who didn't have very good sea legs ...

Punta Cormorant This morning we had a very early start, 5.30am departure. We walked past a lagoon with many pink flamingos. They did a group song and dance for us around the lake. Around the other side of the volcano was a turtle nesting beach. We hoped we were early enough to see them walk to the water. Instead we saw two swimming. Its difficult to photograph them as in the water ...

We were trying to be first on the island today and hopefully get to see some straggling turtle hatchlings running for the sea. Rather than keep you in suspense, we didn't manage to see any - but we did see the tracks they made the night before - close but no cigar! Wandering inland, came across a lake and saw some flamingoes wading in the shallows. Climbed over a bit of a hill (well more of a bump after what I am now used to) and we had arrived at Sting Ray Bay. After ...

There is too much to write, so hopefully the pictures will tell the story of my 5 day cruise through the islands! We visited the following places in the islands: Isla Santa Fe Isla Floreana (Santa Maria) Las Bachas on Santa Cruz Islas Plazas Isla Española