Floreana Island
Overview
One of the first islands settled in the Galápagos, Floreana has an unusually rich and sometimes mysterious human history, from pirates and whalers to a still-functioning 18th-century postal barrel.
Geology & Formation
An older, more eroded island in the southern part of the archipelago.
Landscape
A mix of dramatic coastline, including a beach tinted green by olivine crystals, and quieter highland areas.
Wildlife You May Encounter
Floreana’s own giant tortoise population was hunted to extinction historically, though genetic traces have since been found in tortoises on other islands. The critically endangered Floreana mockingbird now survives only on two small islets nearby, not on Floreana itself. Flamingos and nesting green sea turtles are also found along the coast.
Visitor Sites
Post Office Bay, Cormorant Point (green-sand beach and a flamingo lagoon), and the Devil’s Crown snorkeling site.
Naturalist Insight
Post Office Bay’s wooden barrel has served as an informal postal system since 1793: visitors leave unstamped postcards and take home any addressed near where they live to hand-deliver in person — a tradition that has continued, largely unchanged, for more than two centuries.
At a Glance
| Highlights | Post Office Bay, Cormorant Point, Devil's Crown |
|---|---|
| Best For | Human history, flamingos, green-sand beach |
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