Rygsækrejsen 2015-2016: Double up on day trips - "Ferry" to Isla Floreana

Malene decided last night to not spend the day on another ferry crossing. Instead she signed up for a day trip to Santa Fe island just of the coast of Puerto Ayora. Less transport - more snorkelling. So we split up for the day. Mikkel going to Floreana, and Malene heading out with the snorkel.

The Floreana ferry left just like the other boat yesterday at 7 AM only this time it was much smaller since there was only 7 of us going. 3 other tourists with a guide and a couple of locals. The boat ride was the same though, bumpy, noisy and uncomfortable except it seemed a bit shorter than yesterday. Floreana is a small island and the town over there is just a collection of a few houses and hostels. The cruise ships were finishing their on-shore morning trips when we arrived so there was two groups of roughly 30 persons around the pier - and us. They left, the guys who were on their organised day trip and then I had it all to myself. Just walking about 1½ hours towards the middle of the island and when I bumped into a sign saying "Cerro Allieri" and then headed up the trail. At the top there is a magnificent view of the island, looking back towards the town the cruise ships were leaving and right at the end of the trail the is a viewpoint overlooking the remains of a volcanic crater - a reminder of the islands past and present.

I walked back to town and found it more or less deserted. No tourists on the island all shops were closed but the one open restaurant I was able to find sold cold water and coke - my lunch today. The boat headed back at 3 PM with only the four of us from the morning. And the usual chaos since Malene was still on the list of passengers however she was not there. It took several attempts to convince the captain, the ferry boat and the guide that she had not been on the boat in the morning, she was not hiding on the island and in fact she was on a completely other trip.

The ride back to Puerto Ayora was not as bumpy and we had the joy if suddenly being accompanied by jumping dolphins.

Malene had arrived a bit earlier but had had a great day snorkelling and not having to spend so many hours in a speed boat. We were 8 people on the snorkelling trip and already at the first stop there was plenty to look at. We stopped close to a rock and I saw the Boobies - blue footed birds - and seconds after a couple of dotted rays appeared in the water surface. And we weren't even in the water yet! Great start.We sailed a bit further and jumped in the water, Good visibility, fish, sea lions and a happy Malene. Next stop was in a bay with other groups of snorklers but that didn't matter. Plenty of water and animals for all of us. More sea lions and a male swimming forth and back signalling to stay a bit away from the baby sea lions. Instead we concentrated on the sting ray and turtle swimming underneath us. Two of the girls in our group was really good a diving and holding their breath, so I good inspired and practised getting closer to the animals a few meters below us. The snorkelling trip ended with a short stop on a nice beach - but with annoying biting flies why we stay out in the water most of the time. Going back on the boat happy I did this snorkelling trip. Looking forward to many more snorkelling trips out here,

We headed out for some food, the coke and water lunch not really filling the void in me any more. Last dinner "on-shore" for a while, then back to the hostel to pack our stuff and ready for the early departure tomorrow. We have to be a the airport at 10 AM, but knowing that the short distance includes a bus, a boat ride and another bus - it's going to take some time to get there. "Island-time".