Santa Cruz Island
Today we anchored near the Island of Santa Cruz, the second largest of the archipelago. Our aim was to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. We disembarked at the beautiful dock in Puerto Ayora and it was very hot and sunny. We walked through a very green area, full of mangroves and soon-to-be-changed to desert plants: local prickly pear cactus and succulent bushes.
Once we arrived at the Charles Darwin Research Station, we were able to observe the tortoise breeding center. Here the baby tortoises are kept until they reach the age of six. We had the chance to be very close to the giant tortoises and their babies, as well as the world-famous Lonesome George. He is the last one of his kind. We also met Diego, a saddleback male from Española, who was taken by the San Diego Zoo and returned 20 years later to Galápagos.
After an exciting visit, we took our local transportation up to the highlands of Santa Cruz, and on the way, guests had the opportunity for some biking and a walk towards our restaurant.
After lunch, we went to observe the amazing geological formations of Los Gemelos. We then continued on our short bus ride searching for Geochelone porteri, Santa Cruz Island’s endemic species of giant tortoise. We had a great time walking on the grass, looking for tortoises in fresh-water ponds, watching them drinking water and feeding on the vegetation of the area and enjoying their natural habitat. We met a few, some of them over 500 pounds!!! They are reptiles with a grand shell and great personality. What an experience…
Today’s visit was incredible, and as our expedition is about to reach its peak, we begin to know each other and share this mystical magic of the Islands.
