Floreana Island offers visitors a Galapagos experience unlike any other. While it shares the incredible wildlife of the archipelago, Floreana also has a fascinating human history filled with pirates, whalers, and bold early settlers. It’s the site of the famous Galapagos
Affair mystery and home to one of the world’s most unique post offices where no stamps are required! Beyond its history, Floreana boasts some of the best snorkeling in the Galapagos at Devil’s Crown, as well as sea turtle nesting sites that offer unforgettable encounters with nature. It’s an island full of intrigue, adventure, and natural wonders, making it a must visit on your Galapagos itinerary.
Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about visiting Floreana Island. What wildlife can you spot? Which visitor sites are unmissable? How can you snorkel at Devil’s Crown? And what are the incredible stories of Floreana’s past? Let’s dive in!
Cormorant Point is a top spot to see Galapagos flamingos. If you visit during breeding season, you’ll witness their graceful courtship dance and unique nesting rituals
Green sea turtles arrive on Floreana’s shores between December and May, making their way to the beaches to lay their eggs.
The rarest Galapagos mockingbird can be found on Champion and Gardner Islets, with fewer than 200 individuals left. Conservation efforts are actively working to protect this endangered species.
Devil’s Crown is an underwater paradise for snorkelers. Dive into crystal-clear waters teeming with vibrant reef fish, reef sharks, playful sea lions, and even the occasional Galapagos penguin!
In addition to these highlights, Floreana is home to all the classic Galapagos wildlife: marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, lava herons, Galapagos hawks, Darwin’s finches, and more!
About Floreana Island
Floreana Island: A Geological Time Capsule Floreana Island is an ancient shield volcano and one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos, with lava flows dating back 1.5 million years. Unlike many other islands in the archipelago, Floreana lacks a central volcanic crater, but its rugged terrain tells the story of its fiery past.
Visitors can observe ash deposits, hardened lava flows, and over 50 scoria cinder cones on land, along with six tuff ash cones offshore, all formed by layers of compacted ash from historic eruptions. This striking volcanic landscape offers a fascinating glimpse into the forces that shaped the Galapagos.
Floreana Island holds the most colorful human history of all the Galapagos Islands. From pirates and whalers to mystery and intrigue, its past is as fascinating as its wildlife.
Why So Many Names?
Floreana has gone by three different names over the centuries:
A Pirate’s Paradise
Floreana was one of the first Galapagos islands to be settled, thanks to its rare freshwater source. During the 1700s and 1800s, pirates and whalers stopped here to restock supplies and evade Spanish fleets.One of their most curious legacies? A makeshift post office used to send messages back home without stamps or mail carriers! Sadly, not all visitors were kind to nature. The giant Floreana tortoise was hunted to extinction by sailors who used them as a food source. But today, conservationists are working to reintroduce a closely related species to the island. Floreana’s past is full of intrigue, and the stories don’t stop here. Keep reading to discover its mysteries, legends, and infamous settlers!
The Galapagos Affair is one of the most mysterious true stories in the history of the islands. Set in the 1930s, this tale of eccentric settlers, power struggles, and unexplained disappearances has captivated historians and storytellers alike.
A Paradise for Three… or a Disaster Waiting to Happen?
The Doctor & His Radical Lifestyle. The first settlers were Friedrich Ritter, a German doctor, and his partner Dore Strauch. Ritter, in a shocking act of self-sufficiency, removed all his teeth to prevent future dental issues! The couple sought a back-to-nature lifestyle, living off the land in seclusion.
The Wittmers: A Family of Survivors Next came the Wittmer family, who successfully built an agricultural homestead and welcomed the first-ever child born in the Galapagos, Rolf Wittmer.
The Baroness & Her Lovers: Drama Arrives in Floreana Everything changed when Baroness Eloisa von Wagner Bosquet arrived with two lovers. Bold, theatrical, and ambitious, she quickly disrupted the peace, clashing with the other settlers.
Mysterious Disappearances & Deaths Then, things took a dark turn:
• The Baroness and one lover vanished without a trace.
• Her second lover left the island—only for his mummified body to later wash ashore on a distant island.
• Dr. Ritter died of food poisoning, and Strauch eventually fled back to Germany.
• The Wittmers remained the only survivors but never revealed what really happened.
Floreana Island isn’t just known for its human history it’s also home to one of the rarest birds in the Galapagos, the Floreana Mockingbird. This elusive species gained fame thanks to Charles Darwin, who collected specimens during his 1835 expedition. His observations of mockingbirds across different islands played a crucial role in shaping his theory of evolution.
Sadly, the Floreana Mockingbird is now critically endangered. Invasive species like feral goats, cats, and dogs have destroyed its natural habitat, forcing the few remaining birds to seek refuge on the uninhabited Champion and Gardner islets. With fewer than 200 individuals left, conservation efforts are more vital than ever to ensure the survival of this remarkable species.Conserving the Floreana Mockingbird is urgent. Though feral goats were eradicated in 2007, their impact left the island unsuitable for some native species. The Charles Darwin Foundation monitors the bird’s population through annual censuses, while the Floreana Restoration Project plans to reintroduce them to their original habitat. These efforts also support other endangered species, like Galapagos racer snakes, hawks, barn owls, and Darwin’s finches.
The easiest way to explore Floreana is by Galapagos cruise, but not all itineraries include it so check before booking. For independent travelers, day tours from Santa Cruz are available but can be long and tiring. A better option is to stay overnight at Hotel Wittmer or Floreana Lava Lodge, though reservations are essential as spaces fill up quickly.
Getting there requires planning, as speedboat ferries don’t operate daily. Be sure to check schedules in advance with your accommodation. Need help planning your trip? Contact us for a FREE TOUR QUOTE and start your Floreana adventure today!
Floreana Island offers a perfect blend of history, wildlife, and adventure. Explore fascinating historical sites, encounter unique species, take inbreathtaking views, and dive into some of the best snorkeling spots in the Galapagos.
Step back in time at Post Office Bay, home to a unique 18th century whalers’ postal system. Travelers can leave postcards in a whisky barrel no stamps needed—and take home any addressed to their country for hand delivery.
Nearby, explore a lava cave and hike up to Baroness Viewpoint, where stunning panoramas of Floreana’s rugged beauty await.
The Floreana highlands offer a challenging trek, reaching 450m in altitude. Sturdy footwear is recommended, and transport from Puerto Velasco Ibarra can be arranged for easier access.
Asilo de la Paz (Peace Haven) is home to Floreana’s only freshwater spring, essential for early settlers and sailors. Nearby, visitors can explore a pirate cave, once used as a hideout, featuring rock-carved shelves, beds, and a chimney. The homesteads of 1930s settlers, including the Baroness’ residence, also add to the island’s mystique.
For nature lovers, Cerro Alieri is a botanical gem, hosting 48 plant species, with 56% native and 33% endemic to the Galapagos.
Located in Puerto Velasco Ibarra, Floreana’s Black Beach is a striking site known for its dark volcanic sand and rich history. Early settlers, including Patrick Watkins, landed here, giving it the name Watkins Landing.
Today, sea lions dominate the shoreline, often joining swimmers and snorkelers. Visitors might also spot Galapagos penguins or sea turtles. Nearby, the Wittmer Lodge, run by descendants of early settlers, offers accommodation and a glimpse into Floreana’s past with old photos and souvenirs.
A popular Galapagos cruise stop, Cormorant Point features two unique beaches: green sand beach (rich in olivine crystals) and Flour Beach (white coral sand). The highlight here is the flamingo lagoon, where Galapagos flamingos, pintail ducks, stilts, and finches can be observed. A short walk leads to Flour Beach, a nesting site for green sea turtles. In the nearby waters, rays, reef sharks, and blue-footed boobies are often seen.
Snorkeling is permitted only from the olivine beach, offering encounters with reef fish, sea turtles, sea lions, and whitetip reef sharks. Occasionally, Galapagos penguins also appear.
Devil’s Crown is one of the top snorkeling spots in the Galapagos, featuring strong currents and an abundance of marine life. The site is asubmerged volcanic crater, resembling a jagged crown with coral reefs inside.
Snorkelers can spot an array of fish, including hawkfish, tiger snake eels, angelfish, and balloon fish, along with whitetip reef sharks, rays, sea turtles, and sea lions. Occasionally, scalloped hammerhead sharks and Galapagos penguins are also seen. From the dinghy, visitors can enjoy views of red-billed tropicbirds, herons, pelicans, and blue-footed boobies, which nest on the crater walls.
These small islets off Floreana’s coast are often visited on Galapagos cruises, offering excellent snorkeling and wildlife viewing.
• Enderby Islet: A prime snorkeling site with abundant sharks.
• Gardner Islet: Features fascinating rock formations and caves.
• Champion Islet: Home to the critically endangered Floreana
Mockingbird, found nowhere else in the Galapagos. These waters also attract Galapagos dolphins and numerous seabirds.
Note: Wildlife sightings are always unpredictable.
In summary, Floreana Island offers an exciting and immersive experience for Galapagos travelers. It’s the perfect destination to explore the struggles of early settlers and uncover the mystery of the infamous Floreana Galapagos Affair. The island’s wildlife is equally fascinating, especially the vibrant marine life found at its top snorkeling spots. We hope this blog has sparked your interest and inspired you to experience Floreana Island for yourself!
Thomas de Berlanga sector s/n in front of Santa Cruz Garden, Puerto Ayora
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