During the 18th century, Galapagos was a strategical stop for whalers and pirates during their long trips. As these trips could last many years, a group of whalers decided to create an unofficial post system with a wooden barrel: ships that were bound to return would stop at the bay and pick the post with the same destination as the ship. This tradition is still kept to this day.

Visitors to post office bay browse through the letters and take the ones near their home addresses to be hand deliver. Make sure to bring a postcard on your visit to post office bay and be part of this century-old tradition.