Santa Cruz Island
Our destination today was the Charles Darwin Research Station at Santa Cruz Island, the second largest island in the archipelago.
The weather was nice for walking, a bit overcast with a gentle cool breeze. On our way to the rearing center for giant tortoises, we walked through a very green area full of local vegetation like the gigantic prickly pear cactus with a trunk like a tree.
At the rearing station, we were able to observe the steps taken that have made this center so successful. We had the chance to be very close to the giant tortoises and their babies as well as the mighty Diego and his senoritas.
Later in the morning, we took buses into the highlands of Santa Cruz for lunch. Many other options were offered, like riding bikes, visiting a local school and learning about our local education system, and then we continued to a local farm where sugar cane is processed in all different ways for different products like brown sugar, melasa, and rum. Afterwards, we had a well-deserved tasty meal at a local restaurant. Some of us continued exploring the area while others opted to have a cool drink and relax.
Soon after we continued our bus ride searching for Geochelone porteri, Santa Cruz Island’s endemic species of giant tortoise, on their migration path, as we walked inside and back out of a lava tunnel. We had a great time walking in the tall grass finding tortoises in the area in their natural habitat. We counted a few, including a reptile over 400 pounds with a majestic shell.
Today’s visit was outstanding and our expedition has reached its peak. We are already a big family bounded by the mystical magic called the Galápagos Islands.
