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.

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. 

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.

Galapagos Tortoises Return to the Highlands of Santa Cruz

Galapagos Tortoise in Santa Cruz Highlands by int_enter

Galapagos Tortoises are the largest living species of tortoise in the world with weights up to 900 pounds and lengths of 6 feet.  The are 15 recognized subspecies of tortoises in the Galapagos Islands  11 of which are still in existence. 
For most visitors the best chance they have to see the gentle giants in the wild is in the highlands of Santa Cruz.  Each year in the rainy season female tortoises make the trek up the island to reach the highlands.  They spend several months here feeding on the lush green plants, enjoying the cool muddy waters.  It is here in the highlands that the tortoises mate - peak mating season is from February to July.   Once pregnant the females trek back down to the sandy coast to lay their eggs.
This time of year there are hundreds of tortoises in the Santa Cruz Highlands.  You can frequently see tortoises crossing the main road to Baltra as well as by visiting one of the tortoise reserves.