Santa Cruz Island
This was our first and last day in contact with civilization during our expedition. Santa Cruz Island island is home of the Galápagos National Park Service (GNPS) and the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS); after a full day in Puerto Ayora, all of us where very happy to see the work that has been carried out by these two institutions.
People might think that Galápagos is not like it used to be, due to the interference of humans in a pristine ecosystem. Unfortunetly this is partially true. However, thanks to their hard work over the last 40 years, the CDRS and the GNPS have developed a way to successfully breed, in captivity, Galápagos giant tortoises and land iguanas. This has helped minimize the problems that outside interferences may have caused.
After our visit to the station, we had the chance to explore Puerto Ayora's small clean town of approximately seventeen thousand inhabitants. During the late morning, we headed to the highlands of Santa Cruz for lunch and for our afternoon activities.
While we were riding the bus up to the highlands, we could see the change of vegetation at different elevations. Within a few minutes, we left behind the typical arid zone of the island to enter the humid zone. This is where giant tortoises typically live, just as they have since they first arrived in this lost world.
Our first afternoon activity was to search for these antediluvian animals, and I must add that we were very successful! We saw at least eight of them, despite the fact that most of the tortoises are in the middle of their yearly migration.
After this amazing experience we continued our way by bus to visit the Pitt Craters. These are two gigantic holes in the side of the main road. This phenomenal sight was caused when a magma chamber emptied out, causing the main platform at the surface to collapse.
Once done with our visit, we headed back to Puerto Ayora where we had the chance for one more quick shopping opportunity in town. It was a giant tortoise day, and I am sure that many of us will treasure it forever.
This was our first and last day in contact with civilization during our expedition. Santa Cruz Island island is home of the Galápagos National Park Service (GNPS) and the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS); after a full day in Puerto Ayora, all of us where very happy to see the work that has been carried out by these two institutions.
People might think that Galápagos is not like it used to be, due to the interference of humans in a pristine ecosystem. Unfortunetly this is partially true. However, thanks to their hard work over the last 40 years, the CDRS and the GNPS have developed a way to successfully breed, in captivity, Galápagos giant tortoises and land iguanas. This has helped minimize the problems that outside interferences may have caused.
After our visit to the station, we had the chance to explore Puerto Ayora's small clean town of approximately seventeen thousand inhabitants. During the late morning, we headed to the highlands of Santa Cruz for lunch and for our afternoon activities.
While we were riding the bus up to the highlands, we could see the change of vegetation at different elevations. Within a few minutes, we left behind the typical arid zone of the island to enter the humid zone. This is where giant tortoises typically live, just as they have since they first arrived in this lost world.
Our first afternoon activity was to search for these antediluvian animals, and I must add that we were very successful! We saw at least eight of them, despite the fact that most of the tortoises are in the middle of their yearly migration.
After this amazing experience we continued our way by bus to visit the Pitt Craters. These are two gigantic holes in the side of the main road. This phenomenal sight was caused when a magma chamber emptied out, causing the main platform at the surface to collapse.
Once done with our visit, we headed back to Puerto Ayora where we had the chance for one more quick shopping opportunity in town. It was a giant tortoise day, and I am sure that many of us will treasure it forever.
