Floreana Island

The legendary Galapagos Islands home to Post Office Bay

Galapagos Island Floreana, also known as Charles or Santa Maria Island, is the southeasternmost island in the archipelago.
It is one of the smaller of the major islands, measuring approximately 12 by 15 km and rising to an elevation of 640 m (2000 feet). The oldest lavas on Floreana are 1.5 million years old, making it one of the older islands. At the border of the Island, Captain Porter of the U.S.S. Essex reported witnessing an eruption in the center of the island in July 1813. Though the products of this eruption have not been identified, there are a number of young flows and the island is covered with many young pyroclastic cones (pyroclastic cones are produced when lava it was thrown into the air explosively), particularly in the highlands. All of these observations testify that Floreana remains an active volcano.
Floreana is one of the few islands with a reliable supply of fresh water, an artesian spring at the base of Cerro Olympus in the lush southeast highlands. The Floreana race of giant tortoises was extinct by 1846. However, flamingos may still be seen in Flamingo Bay and sea turtles may be seen nesting on the beach near Cormorant Point.

Floreana Visitor Sites

Post Office Bay

A historical landmark on Floreana Island

Not the most scenic of the visitor sites, but probably one of the most famous sites in Galapagos. Here is where a post barrel was placed and put into use in the late 18th century by English whaling vessels. You are invited to leave a postcard and to pick up any mail from your home area. Take a short visit to the remains of a Norwegian commercial fish drying and canning operation and a lava tube that extends to the sea

Devils Crown

A great snorkeling and scuba diving visitor site in Galapagos

A shallow sunken crater makes for one of the best snorkeling sites in Galapagos, This almost completely submerged volcano offers snorkelers the chance to play in the water with sea lions. See a wide variety of colorful fish in the clear blue water.
One must be a good swimmer as currents can be very strong.
There is a marine site located a short distance from the island. It is an old eroded volcanic cone and a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigates. Red-billed tropicbirds nest in rocky crevices. The center of the cone is an outstanding snorkeling spot full of sea lions and colorful fish.
This area looks dry and rocky from the surface, but the volcanic crater pinnacles that rise up from sandy rubble bottom are loaded with life. Schools of King Angelfish are common, as are large marbled rays that hide motionless under the rocky ledges. Very large balloonfish and large hieroglyphic hawkfish make way for the white-tip sharks making their escape from intrusive photographers. The rocky ridges are also home to scrawled filefish, schools of yellowtail grunts, turtles, tiger snake eels and of course, sea lions.
This is one dive where you might want to fight your way through the passing currents to nestle on the rubbled bottom at 65′ and just hang out and wait to see what swims along. Groups of hammerheads and spotted eagle rays cruise back and forth across the currents and do come quite close to divers who are stationary for a while. This site is also great for snorkelers who can be dropped in the center of the crater and swim their way to the outside.

Cormorant Point

A visitor site that boasts an olive colored beach and endemic birdlife

Named not after the bird but a US ship, there is a wet landing onto a, literally, green beach – so colored because it is made from olivine crystals (volcanic silicates of magnesium and iron). Pencil sea urchins may be found on the beach.

A short walk inland and the trail comes to a brackish lagoon. This is home to one of the biggest populations of flamingos in the archipelago, these pink residents spend about 7 hours a day or more eating, and so take some binoculars to watch the ballet of necks as they gracefully move back and forth, scouring the floor of the lagoon for little shrimp. Take your binoculars to enjoy the show up close. Also present are pintail ducks and stilts. The trail crosses a narrow neck of land and Galapagos Marine Turtle comes to a white beach on the eastern side of the island. Ghost crabs inhabit the beach, and rays and turtles can be seen in the sea. Sea turtles nest at Punta Cormorant (December to May) on the white sand beach, just a short walk away from the olive colored beach where you land.

Black Beach

A black sand beach located on Floreana Island in Galapagos

An unofficial visitor site only visited under special arrangement. Visit the Wittmer pension and small settlement of Puerto Velasco Ibarra. It’s famous resident, Margaret Whitmer, arrived at Floreana in the 1930’s and just recently passed away. Today the pension is managed by her daughter. Here you can have your postcards stamped with one of four seals, sample the homemade wine. Items for sale include Floreana t-shirts and signed copies of her book, Floreana.

Champion Islet

Champion Islet, located off the northern coastline of Floreana, is a compact rocky island that serves as a habitat for the highly endangered Floreana Mockingbird. It is an excellent destination for diving enthusiasts and those interested in witnessing sea turtles, sea lions, and vibrant schools of fish, all thanks to the adjacent coral reef. As the preservation of the species on this islet is of utmost importance, tourist boats are prohibited from docking here. Instead, visitors can partake in a panga ride to observe the diverse wildlife. Furthermore, Champion Islet is highly sought-after among scuba divers for its exceptional diving opportunities.

Baroness Lookout

Situated in the northern region of Floreana Island within La Olla Bay, the Baroness Lookout is a remarkable formation made of basaltic tuff. It offers breathtaking panoramic vistas and can be found nestled between Cormorant Point and Post Office Bay. This lookout point derives its name from Eloise Wagner-Bosquet, an Austrian Baroness who arrived at Floreana in the mid-1930s and mysteriously vanished alongside one of her three romantic partners. It is an ideal spot to appreciate the scenic beauty of Palo Santo and Mangrove forests, as well as the coastline stretching from Enderby Island to Post Office Bay, encompassing Cerro Straw and Punta Cormorant.