FUN-travel: South America – Galapagos Islands – Day 9 & 10

February 25, 2012 by  

Day 12 – Wednesday, February 15 – Floreana Island – sunny, 90’s, high clouds

Land Iguana in the Wild

  • Bad News – same 6:30 wakeup drill

    Valentine's Day Towel Art & Sweets From Staff

  • 1st  Excursion – 8:30 to 10:30 – go to Post Office – 1793 sailors left letters – other sailors arriving delivered them – people still leave letters – some they want delivered – others left for friends to retrieve when they visit the island
  • Next stop – lava tunnels – created during a lava flow – outer lava cools while inner keeps flowing
  • Bad News – down steep steps into pitch black w/bugs!
  • Good News – we pass!
  • 9:30 to 10:30 – snorkel –  2 sea lions surfing & jumping like dolphins in the water
  • 2nd  Excursion – 3 to 6 – Punta Cormorant – 1 hr walk
  • Good News – see flamingos in salty lagoon on way to other side
  • See stingrays in the surf & nests from sea turtles (big, deep, holes in the sand)
  • 2nd stop – deep water snorkel at Devil’s Crown
  • Really Good News – see more fish than ever – schools in the hundreds & one at least 1000!
  • More Really Good News – at end of snorkel 5 reef sharks (6 to 8 ft) circle below us!

Female Vermillion Flycatcher

FF (FUN-facts) – Marine Iguanas eat algae & seaweed. The high salt intake is forcibly expelled by frequent sneezing. Land Iguanas eat prickly pear cactus fruits & pads.

More FF – Tortoises live on land, turtles live in water.

Flightless Cormorant Drying His Wings

Day 13 – Thursday, February 16 – Isabella Island –

  • 1st  Excursion – 8 to 11:45 – Puerto Baquerizo, San Cristobal Island
  • Bad News – have to take bus ride
  • Good News – see lots of tortoises in semi captivity
  • Good News – have time to see town
  • Bad News – not much to see or good shopping
  • Good News – back to ship for good lunch
  • 2nd  Excursion – 4 to 5 – Playa Ochoa – beach walk & snorkel – after yesterday pretty much a letdown!
  • Good  News – back to ship for happy hour & farewell party 

Tortoises in Semi Captivity

 FF – Flightless Cormorants adapted to their environment by trading their ability for flying for a more better streamlined body for swimming.

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