Floreana Post Barrell

The Post Barrel on Floreana was established by Whaling Captain James Colnett in 1793 as a way for them to send letters home during their two year voyages at sea. Sailors who had just Rounded the Horn would drop letters off while sailors who were heading back home would pick them up and deliver them upon their return home.

Today visitors on Galapagos Cruises can visit the Post Barrel and drop off letters and post cards to be hand delivered by other travelers.

Galapagos Flamingo

The Galapagos Islands are located at the confluence of the cold waters of the Humboldt Current bringing the nutrient rich waters north from Antarctica and the warm tropical waters south from the Panama Current.  This mixture of currents creates a unique environment which allows tropical animals like Flamingos to live on the same island as Galapagos Penguins usually only found in colder climates.

Magic Water Tour - Fountains of Lima

Located in the Reserve Park in the Center of Lima the Magic Water Tour or 13 water fountains in Lima is the largest fountain complex in the world.  A wonderful place to come with a family many of the fountains are interactive with light shows and walk through fountains that encourage visitors to cool off while enjoying their visit.  The park is open Tuesday through Sunday from 4pm to 11pm

Flightless Cormorant

Flightless Cormorants are endemic to the Galapagos Islands.  Similar in appearance to other cormorants, due its need to dive for food rather than hunt for food in flight, the Flightless Cormorant evolved to become the only type of cormorant that has lost its ability to fly and instead has become an adept swimmer. Found only on the north western shores of Isabela and on the Island of Fernandina it is one of the rarest birds in the world with only an estimated 1500 birds in existence.

Manta Season

January - May is Manta Season in the Galapagos

December to May is known as Manta Season for Galapagos Diving.  The Manta Ray or Giant Manta is the largest of the ray with wingspans of more than 23 feet across.  Filter feeders the Manta is extremely curious around humans and can often be found swimming with divers.

During Manta Season there is a sharp increase in sightings of all kinds of rays including the giant mantas, mobula rays, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, cow-nosed rays and marble rays. 

Galapagos Diving Cruises that feature diving offer divers the chance to dive with a variety of marine life including hammerheads and giant mantas. 

Macaws

Brightly colored Blue Macaws and Scarlet Macaws are a frequent sight in the Amazon Rainforest.  These intelligent cousin to the parrot are social and normally mate for life - making it common to see couples or groups of Macaws together.

Macaws are endangered in the wild due to encroachment and deforestation in the jungle and illegal trapping for the bird trade.

Virgen de la Candelaria

February is a time of celebration in Puno Peru.  Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, Puno is known for being the Folkloric Capital of Peru a distinction that has been gained by celebrations like the festival Virgen de la Candeleria.  From February 1 – 10 the city of Puno comes alive with music, dancers in lavish costumes and a general sense of celebration.  The fusion of Christian and pegan beliefs are evident the Virgen of Candelaria the patron saint of Puno is also known as Mamacha Candelaria, Mamita Canticha, and MamáCandi. She is also associated with Lake Titicaca as the birth of the Inca empire and Pachamama.

Bartolome

The small island of Bartolome located just east of Santiago is the most photographed site in the Galapagos Islands. A popular destination for Galapagos Cruises. Visitors to Bartolome can snorkel with sea lions and Galapagos Penguins and take the hike to the island's summit for a spectacular vista of the central islands.

Galapagos Penguin

Endemic to the Galapagos Islands, Galapagos Penguins are the northern most penguins in the world, surviving on the equator thanks to the cool waters of the Humboldt Current. Smaller than their Antarctic cousins, 90% of the Galapagos Penguin population live on the western islands of Isabela and Fernandina.

Inca Trail Closed for Cleaning

One of the world's classic hikes the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a multi-day trek following the traditional Incan route arriving to the city of Machu Picchu through the Gate of the Sun.

The Peruvian Government's concern about overuse and erosion has led to regulations in the number of people permitted on the trail each day. A maximum of 500 people including guides and porters are granted permits to begin the trail everyday. As a result, advance booking is mandatory, especially between May - November (high season).

During the low season the government maintains the trail and closes each February for cleaning. During February visitors may still visit the Lost City of the Incas via a train service from The Sacred Valley or Cusco.

Santo Domingo - Coricancha Cusco

Located in Cusco a short distance from the main plaza is one of the most interesting building in the city the Santo Domingo Cathedral or Coricancha the Inca Sun Palace. Originally named Inti Kancha this building was the most important temple in the Inca Empire and the most revered in the capital city of Cusco.

When the Spanish conquered the city the demolished the temple and used its foundation to construct the Santo Domingo Cathedral. Today the site is the best representation of Cusco history reflecting the city's importance both to the Incas and the Spanish in Colonial Days.

Blue Footed Booby

A seabird most notably found in the Galapagos Islands, is famous for their bright blue feet. Living entirely on fish, Blue Footed Boobies are excellent hunters and can be seen diving in groups into the water, looking like arrows being shot at the water. These birds are known to dive to depths up to 330 feet for their prey.

The Blue-footed Booby is a monogamous, yet their mating ritual is quite unique. Males try to impress females with their bright feet. The couple engage in a courtship dance stomping their bright blue feet, spreading their wings while pointing their beaks to the sky and honking loudly.

Galapagos Mockingbird

Galapagos Mockingbird

The Galapagos Mockingbird can be identified by their streaked brown and gray feathers, long tail, and smaller size, and black, angled beak. Like other mockingbirds it is omnivorous, but it is more predatory than the related species in South America. It preys on small lava lizards, insects, centipedes, carrion, seabird eggs, and young finches. Galapagos Mockingbirds are scavengers and unafraid of humans. On Islands like, Espanola, Mockingbirds are known to land on visitors to try to steal a drink of fresh water.

Galapagos Mockingbirds have a very clear call that sometimes varies, but unlike other mockingbirds, Galapagos mockingbirds are not mimics. Although they can fly, they are known to be seen running around more than flying which has led to comparisons to road-runners. There are four species of Mockingbirds endemic to the Galapagos Islands the Galapagos Mockingbird, Chatham Mockingbird (found on San Cristobal Island), Hood Mockingbird (found on Espnaola Island) and Floreana Mockingbird.

Though it is often thought the Finch was the bird that inspired Darwin's Theory of Evolution the truth is the Mockingbird that was his inspiration.