Isla Plaza Sur (South Plaza Island), a small island off the coast of Santa Cruz, was our first stop on Saturday.

Plaza Sur is known for birds, ice plant, prickly pear cactus, and land iguanas.

I have to say, I was not expecting to see so much cactus (or really any cactus) on this trip.

On Thursday, we disembarked on Santa Cruz Island. While here, we walked in a lava tube, and went to a tortoise habitat.

We didn’t go all the way through the lava tube, as parts of it are quite low/narrow and muddy. However, it’s estimated at 1km in length, which is quite long!

After exploring the lava tube, we went to Rancho Primicias, the Giant Tortoise Reserve.

Wednesday afternoon, we went kayaking and took a trip to Post Office Bay.

My videos of the Galápagos green sea turtles won’t upload, so I will post them when I get home next week.

Post Office Bay is one of the oldest traditions on the Galápagos Islands. Dating back to whaling times, the whalers would stop at Isla Floreana, and visit Post Office Bay. If they found anything at the “post office” near where they’d be heading, they’d take it and hand carry the letters to the recipients. This tradition continues today. Visitors look for letters addressed near their homes, and take them with a promise to hand deliver them. Visitors may also leave a letter or postcard in the barrel, hoping that a future visitor will deliver it.

View from Post Office Bay.

Today, we spent the day at Isla Floreana.

We started with a hike at Punta Cormorant.

After our hike, we went snorkeling. I wish I had an underwater camera! A giant alpha male sea lion swam right next to me. He was so close I could almost touch him.

This afternoon we are kayaking and visiting Post Office Bay, also on Isla Floreana.